Who is missing? The realities of the missing persons problem

Hirschel, J. David; Lab, Steven P.

doi:10.1016/0047-2352(88)90034-7

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This use has continued with a superficial focus-change to newer technologies including ground-penetrating radar (Instanes, Lønne, & Sandaker, 2004;Ruffell, 2005) and computerised database management (Haglund, 1993). Little academic work published pre-1980 was empirical, and it rarely examined issues such as the responses of the missing persons' family or loved ones to their loss (Meyer, 1981), or the characteristics of missing people (Hirschel & Lab, 1988).…”

Section: Temporal Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult missing persons: a concept analysis

Taylor

Woolnough

Dickens

2018

Psychology, Crime & Law

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Missing persons incidents incur considerable societal costs but research has overwhelmingly concentrated on missing children. Understanding the phenomenon among adults is underdeveloped as a result. We conducted an evolutionary concept analysis of the 'missing person' in relation to adults. Evolutionary concept analysis provides a structured narrative review methodology which aims to clarify how poorly defined phenomena have been discussed in the professional/academic literature in order to promote conceptual clarity and provide building blocks for future theoretical development. A systematic literature search identified k = 73 relevant papers from which surrogate terms for, and antecedents, consequences, and attributes of the occurrence of adult missing persons were extracted and analysed. The core attributes of the adult missing person are (i) actual or perceived unexpected or unwanted absence accompanied by an absence of information and (ii) a potential adverse risk outcome as perceived by those left behind. The centrality of mental ill-health in actual adult missing persons cases is not reflected in theoretical development which largely comprises descriptive typologies of variable quality and questionable utility. There is a clear need to shift research emphasis towards clinical and psychological domains of inquiry in order to further advance the field of adult missing persons research.

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Section: Temporal Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult missing persons: a concept analysis

Taylor

Woolnough

Dickens

2018

Psychology, Crime & Law

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“…While it seems to be accepted that choice can play a role in going missing (Hirschel & Lab 1988;Payne 1995;Finkelhor et al 2002;Biehal et al 2003), the notion of going missing being 'voluntary' is debatable. Consideration about the circumstances in which choices may be exercised such as when a person is young, emotionally overwhelmed, mentally ill or escaping violence suggest understanding decisions as 'voluntary' may not properly apply .…”

Section: Bac K G R O U N Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While it seems to be accepted that choice can play a role in going missing (Hirschel & Lab 1988; Payne 1995; Finkelhor et al. 2002; Biehal et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Missing siblings: seeking more adequate social responses

Clark

Warburton

Tilse

2009

Child & Family Social Work

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Little is known about the experience of family and friends when a young adult goes missing, less is known about how siblings make sense of the experience. Police assistance to locate the missing person may be sought but there is little recognition of going missing or missingness as a social issue, and there is little or no adequate social response to the needs of those left behind. This paper links knowledge of siblings, loss and grief to an understanding of this phenomenon. It presents the methodology and findings of an exploratory, qualitative study into the experiences of nine adult siblings of long‐term missing people in Australia and presents the themes drawn from their accounts. The themes are briefly elaborated using direct quotations from participants in the study and represented in a diagram. The paper seeks to develop greater understanding of the inter‐relationship between missingness and other social issues, to give voice to the views of participants and to encourage practitioners to engage more purposefully in work with family and friends affected by this issue. Some implications for social work practice are presented.

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“…Research shows that most people return home themselves or are located by friends and family with minimal involvement from police services (Hammer, Finkelhor, Sedlak, & Porcellini, 2004;Henderson & Henderson, 1998;Hirschel & Lab, 1988). However, deciding which cases need an immediate and protracted police response has been recognised as a critical issue for policing (Blakemore et al, 2005;Newiss, 1999Newiss, , 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘You are going to drop the ball on this …’: using siblings’ stories to inform better interprofessional practice when someone goes missing

Clark

2011

Police Practice and Research

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This paper focuses on a part of a larger piece of exploratory, qualitative research. A brief literature review precedes verbatim quotations from accounts of siblings' experiences of police. The accounts were gained by in-depth interviews with adult siblings of nine longterm missing people. Participant stories reveal the quality of the investigation and the manner of service as influencing their emotional well-being in the short and longer term. Findings cannot be extrapolated but indicate potential areas for future research. The need for support from human services workers to complement the role of police is recognised as is the important role of non-government support and advocacy services.

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Who is missing? The realities of the missing persons problem

Cited by 24 publications

References 6 publications

Adult missing persons: a concept analysis

Adult missing persons: a concept analysis

Missing siblings: seeking more adequate social responses

‘You are going to drop the ball on this …’: using siblings’ stories to inform better interprofessional practice when someone goes missing

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