NCJ Number
118741
Date Published
1988
Length
77 pages
Annotation
Trends and events potentially impacting missing children cases by the year 1998 are assessed.
Abstract
The research group identified five trends relevant to the missing children issue: need for better children awareness and education programs; law enforcement accountability; legislation related to missing children; lack of communication between agencies dealing with missing children cases; and increase in the organized crime network. The research group then developed a list of events that could affect trends in the number of missing children. These events include the formation of a missing children task force, demand by victim rights groups that more attention and resources be devoted to missing children cases, publicity of a major missing child case, change in law enforcement's view of missing children, and more public and private funding for missing children programs. A strategic management process was formulated to address the missing children issue. It is concluded that legislative interest in missing children programs has diminished and that involved agencies interact poorly with each other regarding missing children cases. Law enforcement administrators need appropriate training in child pornography, educational programs, and missing children investigative techniques. Legislatures need to be made more aware of the issue, and State-level agencies need to be involved in assessing and planning for the special problems posed by missing children cases. Appendixes provide additional information on the research project. 23 references, 11 figures.