NCMEC

In light of the increased media coverage on missing children in the news surrounding Danielle Van Dam, Elizabeth Smart, Samantha Runnion and other missing children cases, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is urging parents, instructors and members of the community to be calm and armed with information. Below you'll find informative statistics and important prevention tips from the NCMEC:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tina Schwartz
Joann Donnellan
jdonnellan@ncmec.org
703.837.3900

July 24, 2002

National Children’s Organization Advises Parents To Stay Calm In Response To Recent Child Abductions

Highlights Statistics and Prevention Tips

Washington, DC -- In light of the high profile abductions of 7-year-old Erica Pratt, 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart and other recent cases, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) encourages families not to panic. Instead, parents need to empower themselves with information that can help protect their children. “Every time we are faced with a high profile case that’s constantly making headlines, families are understandably frightened. But, they need to know these cases are very rare and parents can take measures to safeguard their kids,” says NCMEC President and CEO Ernie Allen.

Here are the Statistics:

1. Parental abductions and runaway cases make up the majority of missing children in the United States. In 2001 there were about 725,000 children reported missing, or nearly 2,000 per day. The vast majority of these cases were recovered quickly; however, the parent or guardian was concerned enough to contact law enforcement and they placed the child into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center – a computerized national database of criminal justice information. It is available to Federal, state and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies.

2. Each year there are about 3,000 to 5,000 non-family abductions reported to police, most of which are short term sexually-motivated cases. About 200 to 300 of these cases, or 6 percent, make up the most serious cases where the child was murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep.

Current NCMEC data indicates that the number of serious child abduction cases like Samantha and Elizabeth are consistent with last year’s numbers. However, The Center believes that these numbers are decreasing, projecting that there will be about 100 of these types of cases this year with nearly one-half resulting in the death of the child. "While we have had a number of stranger abductions this summer, we strongly believe that these types of cases are actually declining overall," said Allen. "But, it is our sense that the sexual victimization of children is on the rise." This is based on feedback from law enforcement around the country and cases submitted to NCMEC.

Allen stresses that crimes like these can happen anywhere, from a small town to a big city, so it is critical that parents arm themselves with important tips on how to keep their children safe. "Parents need to understand that supervision and communication are key to child protection."

Safety Tips for Parents:

• Be sure to go over the rules with your children about whose homes they can visit when you’re not there and discuss the boundaries of where they can and can’t go in the neighborhood.
  
• Always listen to your children and keep the lines of communication open. Teach your children to get of out of dangerous or uncomfortable situations right away, and practice role-playing and basic safety skills with them.
• Teach your children in whose car they may ride. Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless accompanied by a parent or trusted adult.
• Make sure children know their names, address, telephone numbers and how to use the telephone.
• Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends and neighbors.