Estimating the Number of Stranger-Abduction Homicides of Children: A Review of Available Evidence

• NCJ Number: 152226
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 18 Dated: (1990) Pages: 385-399
• Author(s): G T Hotaling; D Finkelhor
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-MC-CX-K069
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study used six existing data sources to estimate the number of stranger-abduction murders of children that occur each year in the U.S. The article also presents findings from an analysis concerning the number of abduction-murders of children that occurred between 1976 and 1984.

Abstract

Each of the six data sets -- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and Illinois Department of Law Enforcement, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Police Records Study, Homicide in Dade County (Florida), National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse Reporting Data, California Supplemental Homicide Report Data, and the Comparative Homicide File for 1976-1984 -- is described in terms of its original focus and any modifications made to construct an estimate for this study. The estimates ranged from 46 to 318 abducted and murdered children each year; this study estimates the number to fall between 52 and 158. Findings are discussed in terms of trends; age, gender, and race of the child; and region. 4 tables, 7 notes, and 51 references