In the United States, a child goes missing or is abducted every 40 seconds. Each year, approximately 840,000 children are reported missing, with sources estimating that 85 to 90% of these are youngsters. While the majority of cases of missing or abducted children are addressed within hours, several involve circumstances in which a child is abducted permanently or for an extended period of time. The following are some of the most pressing concerns about children who have gone missing or who have been kidnapped. In the United States, family kidnappings account for half of all recorded abductions. When compared to other kidnapping crimes, family abduction is generally performed by parents and involves a much larger number of female perpetrators. Family abductions are most common among children under the age of six, and they typically occur in the midst of severe divorce or child custody struggles between parents. Because the kid may be unwilling to leave his or her abductor, and other family members may be complicit in concealing and supporting the abducting parent, family abduction creates significant challenges for law enforcement. Kidnappings by strangers and acquaintances are examples of non-family abductions. Abductions by acquaintances account for 27% of all child abductions, and they are performed by a disproportionately large percentage of juvenile criminals.
