Reconsidering the Leading Myths of Stranger Child Abduction

Abstract

This paper addresses the two foremost myths of child abduction: (1) that it is generally committed by strangers; and (2) that the phenomenon is a growing problem. These commonly held views are considered in light of the extant empirical knowledge base, including the recently released NISMART‐2 study. Research indicates that stranger abduction occurs less frequently than family abduction or acquaintance abduction; stereotypical stranger abductions are rarer still, and stereotypical stranger abductions resulting in homicide are extraordinarily rare. There is no evidence of a stranger‐abduction epidemic, and there is no clear evidence for a child abduction epidemic overall. There is, however, strong evidence that parental abduction is widespread. Assessment of the extant knowledge base suggests the need for: (1) national longitudinal studies with consistent typologies and methodologies which could determine the scope and trend of child abduction; (2) increased efforts to verify interview data to avoid overestimation; (3) theoretical construction to predict/explain abduction behaviors; and (4) migration of new elaborated typologies into NIBRS and especially UCR data collection.

Keywords:

• kidnapping
• parental
• parent
• NISMART

Notes

J. Eagle Shutt is a Graduate Student with the Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina. J. Mitchell Miller is Assistant Professor and director of Drugs and Addiction studies certificate program at the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina. Christopher J. Schreck is Assistant Professor at the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, Illinois State University. Nancy K. Brown is Assistant Professor at the College of Social Work, University of South Carolina. Correspondence to: John Schutt, 1000 Michaelmas Avenue, Cayce, SC 29033 USA.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. Eagle Shutt

J. Eagle Shutt is a Graduate Student with the Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina. J. Mitchell Miller is Assistant Professor and director of Drugs and Addiction studies certificate program at the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina. Christopher J. Schreck is Assistant Professor at the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, Illinois State University. Nancy K. Brown is Assistant Professor at the College of Social Work, University of South Carolina. Correspondence to: John Schutt, 1000 Michaelmas Avenue, Cayce, SC 29033 USA.