Centro de Documentação da PJ
Analítico de Periódico
CD 335
Understanding the complexities of non-familial child abductions [Recurso eletrónico] : a systematic literature review on the behavioural characteristics of acquaintance and stranger abductors / Matthew Jones ..[et al.]
Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 13, n. 4 (2023), p. 316-333
Ficheiro de 207 MB em formato PDF.
SEQUESTRO DE CRIANÇAS, ESTUDO DE CASOS, CRIANÇA, VÍTIMA, FAMÍLIA, REINO UNIDO
Purpose – Reports from 2016 to 2017 suggest that approximately 870 cases of non-familial child abduction (NFA) are recorded in England and Wales per year. Yet, empirical knowledge of the victims, offenders and offence characteristics is limited in comparison to other forms of child victimisation. Furthermore, much of the available knowledge is constrained by a lack of clarity around the differences between acquaintance and stranger abductors. This systematic literature review aims to develop a comprehensive overview of acquaintance and stranger child abductions, focussing on the similarities and differences in offending behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – Research databases (PsycArticles, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Criminal Justice Abstracts, MEDLINE and ERIC) and the Grey Literature (ETHOS and EBSCO) were screened for peer-reviewed research published between 1995 and 2021. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised using a modified version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Case Reports. Findings – Six key areas within NFA offences and their characteristics were identified as offering potential for differentiating acquaintance and stranger abductors: victim–offender relationship, number of victims and offenders, motives, modus operandi, victim injury, sexual assault and mechanism of death (in fatal cases). The results of this review are discussed with consideration given to investigative implications, limitations and directions for future study. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to systematically review the current NFA literature, from which pragmatic recommendations for practice and future academic enquiry are drawn.
