What are types of Missing Children Cases?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In general, missing children cases fall into three basic categories: nonfamily abduction, family abduction, and runaway (or lost).
The nonfamily abduction case, in which a child is removed without authorization from his or her family by force or trickery, is the most complex and dangerous type of missing child case. Many experts believe that the first few hours after an abduction are the most dangerous for children.
Also included in this category are abductions of newborns and infants from health care facilities, malls, grocery stores, and public transportation facilities, as well as other public places where the mother’s or childcare provider’s attention may be diverted. The offender almost always is a woman and generally does not harm the baby because she usually abducts the child in order to have a baby of her own.
The second type of case is the family abduction, which generally occurs in conjunction with divorce and separation. In this type of case, the noncustodial parent removes the child from the care of the custodial parent and may flee to another state or even another country with the child. Family abductions are often very complex cases involving court orders, child protection services, and hidden agendas, as well as raw emotions and sometimes extreme possessiveness toward the children on the part of one or both parents.
The third type of missing child case involves the runaway or lost child, who could be in great danger depending on such factors as age, maturity, and intelligence. The voluntary runaway child is the most common missing child case encountered by law enforcement officers.