A mixed methods study of the mental health and criminal justice histories of missing persons

Sowerby, Amy; Thomas, Stuart

doi:10.1080/15614263.2016.1230062

Cited by 23 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For example, only within the past four years have public records on missing persons been accessible for data analysis (Statistics Canada, 2018), and despite recent research on missing and murdered Indigenous women (Anderson, 2016;Royle, 2017), there is only a single peer-reviewed study on missing persons in Canada (Kiepal et al, 2012). The lack of existing research on missing persons has also made it difficult for police agencies, who are under increased public scrutiny, to develop evidence-based practices and make informed assessments of risk (Sowerby and Thomas, 2017;Fyfe et al, 2015).…”

Section: Missing Persons In the Canadian Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though individuals who are reported missing multiple times comprise a significant portion of the overall volume of missing person cases (Sowerby and Thomas, 2017), very little is known about the phenomenon of repeat missing persons. Of what is known, much of the research has focused on risk factors.…”

Section: Repeat Missing Personsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…International estimates suggest that approximately 38-50 percent (Tarling and Burrows, 2004;Shalev Greene and Hayden, 2014) or about 34-38 percent (Henderson and Henderson, 1998) of all missing person cases are repeat cases. Biehal et al (2003) find most individuals are reported missing three times, although this number increases to six times for individuals who have a history of mental health problems (Sowerby and Thomas, 2017). Interestingly, across both British and Australian samples, an inverse relationship between age and repeat events of going missing has been identified (Biehal et al, 2003;Henderson and Henderson, 1998;Sowerby and Thomas, 2017).…”

Section: Repeat Missing Personsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The “power few” of missing persons’ cases

Huey

Ferguson

Kowalski

2020

PIJPSM

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the “power few” concept in relation to missing persons and the locations from which they are reported missing.Design/methodology/approachData on missing persons’ cases (n = 26,835) were extracted from the record management system of a municipal Canadian police service and used to create data sets of all of the reports associated with select repeat missing adults (n = 1943) and repeat missing youth (n = 6,576). From these sources, the five locations from which repeat missing adults and youth were most commonly reported missing were identified (“power few” locations). The overall frequency of reports generated by these locations was then assessed by examining all reports of both missing and repeat missing cases, and demographic and incident factors were also examined.FindingsThis study uncovers ten addresses (five for adults; five for youths) in the City from which this data was derived that account for 45 percent of all adults and 52 percent of all youth missing person reports. Even more striking, the study data suggest that targeting these top five locations for adults and youths could reduce the volume of repeat missing cases by 71 percent for adults and 68.6 percent for youths. In relation to the demographic characteristics of the study’s sample of adults and youths who repeatedly go missing, the authors find that female youth are two-thirds more likely to go missing than male youth. Additionally, the authors find that Aboriginal adults and youths are disproportionately represented among the repeat missing. Concerning the incident factors related to going missing repeatedly, the authors find that the repeat rate for going missing is 63.2 percent and that both adults and youths go missing 3–10 times on average.Practical implicationsThe study results suggest that, just as crime concentrates in particular spaces among specific offenders, repeat missing cases also concentrate in particular spaces and among particular people. In thinking about repeat missing persons, the present research offers support for viewing these concerns as a behavior setting issue – that is, as a combination of demographic factors of individuals, as well as factors associated with particular types of places. Targeting “power few” locations for prevention efforts, as well as those most at risk within these spaces, may yield positive results.Originality/valueVery little research has been conducted on missing persons and, more specifically, on how to more effectively target police initiatives to reduce case volumes. Further, this is the first paper to successfully apply the concept of the “power few” to missing persons’ cases.

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Section: Missing Persons In the Canadian Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Repeat Missing Personsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Repeat Missing Personsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The “power few” of missing persons’ cases

Huey

Ferguson

Kowalski

2020

PIJPSM

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“…Similar observations have been made in the US (FBI, 2016) and Australia (National Missing Persons Coordination Centre, 2016). Young people are also more likely to go missing repeatedly (Henderson and Henderson, 1998;Shalev Greene and Hayden, 2014;Sowerby and Thomas, 2017). For example, the National Crime Agency (NCA) (2016) estimated that 52% of all missing persons incidents involving young people in 2015 were repeat occurrences; among adults, just 18% were repeat incidents.…”

Section: Missing Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Missing Children: On the Extent, Patterns, and Correlates of Repeat Disappearances by Young People

Babuta¹,

Sidebottom

2018

Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice

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Missing persons investigations are arguably the most common and costly non-crime problem the police are expected to handle, with a large proportion of all cases attributable to young people. This article investigates the prevalence, time course, distance, and correlates of repeat disappearances by children (under the age of 18 years). Using data from one UK police force for the period January 2011 to May 2013 (n = 1,885), we find that (1) nearly two-thirds of all missing child reports are repeat disappearances, (2) a small proportion of children who go missing repeatedly (15%) account for over half of all missing persons incidents, (3) children who go missing repeatedly tend to travel shorter distances than children reported missing once, and (4) the likelihood of a child going missing on multiple occasions is associated with age, being in care, a history of family conflict, and if going missing was judged to be ‘out of character’. The implications of our findings for the prevention of repeat disappearances by young people are discussed.

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“…There are no more detailed statistical data about the number of missing children (the number of missing children and estimated number of missing children) and also the number of missing cases resulting in the death of the child. Although studies on the subject of missing children and child abduction have increased, it is not enough (1,(12)(13)(14). In the studies, the challenges of the missing person investigations, the behaviour of the missing people, the geographic information in the missing investigations, the importance of the risk assessment and immediate response were discussed and suggestions were made to help the police investigations (1,5,8,13,(15)(16)(17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Approach to Missing and Abducted Children Cases in Turkey: Criticism of First Response, Criminal Investigation and TV Programs

Gönültaş¹,

Hedges²

2021

blm

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The present study aims to criticize how to intervene and investigate in cases of missing children in Turkey in the context of first response, criminal investigation and TV Programmes. Thus, we can offer suggestions on how to make more effective interventions in missing children cases in the context of the current investigation of missing and abducted children cases. Methods:The research adopted a qualitative analysis method and in order to collect data, interviewing and documenting technique from professionals related to Turkish approach (n=5), and speakers and producers of TV programmes (ATV-T.S. and Fox TV-K.Ç.) related to missing children (n=3) were applied. Then the collected data were analyzed with content analysis.Results: Content analysis yielded three themes: 1-Administrative approach and first response, 2-Judiciary approach and criminal investigation, 3-The approach of TV programs. In the light of findings, many institutions participate in the intervention process, professionals from many different fields need to work together, investigation processes are also defined step by step. It has been observed that there is no certainty about standards on the issues of receiving the first report of missing children, how is the transition from administrative approach to judicial approach in the case of a criminal factor, coordination of the units and professionals involved in the process. The effectiveness of TV programs in mobilizing potential witnesses (the third eye) is significant; however, there are no standards in relation to the protection of witnesses, victims and their relatives against defamation and disclosure. Conclusion:In the context of the Turkish approach, in order for the intervention and investigation of missing and abducted children to become more effective, standards should be determined at the following four points: Receiving missing reports, the importance of time in the context of criminal assessment, the coordination of approaches, using mass media for the third eye and participants rights in TV programs. Effective training must be developed that ensures all parties are aware of the processes, how to implement them and what information they might need to carry out for an effective investigation.

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A mixed methods study of the mental health and criminal justice histories of missing persons

Cited by 23 publications

References 18 publications

The “power few” of missing persons’ cases

The “power few” of missing persons’ cases

Missing Children: On the Extent, Patterns, and Correlates of Repeat Disappearances by Young People

The Approach to Missing and Abducted Children Cases in Turkey: Criticism of First Response, Criminal Investigation and TV Programs

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