RUNAWAYS - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

• NCJ Number: 14108
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1973) Pages: 47-54
• Author(s): D E SUDDICK
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DISCUSSES TYPES OF RUNAWAYS, PERSONALITY OF THE RUNAWAY, RUNAWAY RESPONSE, TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF RUNAWAYS, ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

Abstract

SEVERAL TYPES OF RUNAWAYS ARE IDENTIFIED - THOSE WHOSE STRAYING IS ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, THOSE WHOSE BEHAVIOR CANNOT BE CLASSIFIED AS ABNORMAL, THE ROOTLESS CHARACTERIZED BY PLEASURE SEEKING, THE ANXIOUS WHO ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF PROBLEMS IN THEIR HOME, AND THE TERRIFIED BEING INVOLVED IN OR THREATENED BY AN INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. SEVERAL STUDIES ON THE PERSONALITY OF THE RUNAWAY DRAWS ONE TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NO UNIFORM SET OF PERSONALITY VARIABLES CAN BE EXPECTED TO CONSISTENTLY PREDICT RUNNING AWAY. RUNNING AWAY OFTEN RESULTS FROM LACK OF EFFECTUAL PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND CONTROL OF THE CHILD CONCURRENTLY WITH NOT WANTING OR REJECTING HIM. IN TREATING THE RUNAWAY, CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN TO HOUSING (WHETHER THE CHILD IS RETURNED HOME, INCARCERATED, OR PLACED IN A HALFWAY HOUSE OR FOSTER HOME). PROBATION, PLACEMENT AWAY FROM THE FAMILY, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY ARE OFFERED AS USEFUL MEANS OF CONTROLLING RUNAWAYS.