NCJ Number
142696
Date Published
1993
Length
332 pages
Annotation
Based on a study of 371 parents whose children were abducted by the other parent and on interviews with abductors and abducted children, this book details the circumstances surrounding child snatching, the location and recovery of many of the children, the five patterns of parental abduction, and measures society can take to prevent abductions and to resolve them when they occur.
Abstract
The text notes that an estimated 350,000 children are abducted by a family member each year. It describes the emotional and psychological consequences for the child, ways in which the parent left behind copes with the lack of knowledge of the child's whereabouts and well-being, and the attitudes and motivations of abducting parents. The authors also identify five common scenarios that end in abduction and provide specific suggestions for mental health professionals involved with families who have experienced this trauma. Public policy issues are also examined, with emphasis on how specific changes in laws regarding custody, divorce, and other issues could help to reduce the abduction of children or resolve abductions more quickly. Notes, index, appended tables, and 261 references