The Sexual Exploitation of Missing Children: A Research Review.

This paper evaluates current knowledge about the prevalence, dynamics, and short- and long-term effects of sexual exploitation among missing children. It is based upon empirical research findings from books, papers presented at professional meetings, doctoral dissertations, works in progress, and more than 75 articles in professional journals. Most of the research referred to has been conducted during the past 10 years. The report examines three categories of missing children: runaways, victims of parental kidnapping, and victims of nonfamily abduction. It focuses on five interrelated issues: prevalence, dynamics, risk factors, effects, and future research. Although the primary focus of this report is on forms of sexual exploitation that occur after a child is missing, studies of sexually abused children who subsequently become missing are also reviewed. An executive summary and introduction and a list of definitions of terms are followed by nine sections which focus on: (1) how many children are missing; (2) the sexual exploitation of missing children; (3) runaways and other forms of sexual exploitation; (4) long-term effects on runaways of sexual exploitation; (5) sexual exploitation of parentally kidnapped victims; (6) short- and long-term effects of sexual victimization on parentally kidnapped children; (7) sexual exploitation of nonfamily abducted children; (8) short- and long-term effects of sexual exploitation on nonfamily abducted children; and (9) a research agenda for examining the sexual exploitation of missing children. A list of 82 references is included. (NB)