Child Abduction and Kidnapping (Criminal Investigations)

According to the U.S Department of Justice, more than 250,000 children are abducted each year. Most are family abductions, in which a child is taken by a family member or a person known to them. Others are non-family abductions, in which a child is taken for motives ranging from ransom to stealing a child to start a family. ""Child Abduction and Kidnapping"" explains the types of kidnappings, details government and law enforcement efforts to prevent and solve them, and explores the many practices and programs, such as the AMBER Alert, now in place to help protect children.The chapters include: The AMBER Alert: Communities on the Case; Family Abduction: Surprising Suspects; Infant Abduction: The Youngest Victims; The Internet: Protection through Privacy; and, Supportive Organizations: Experts on Call.The cases covered include: Amber Hagerman; Megan Kanka; Charles Lindbergh Jr.;Etan Patz; Charles and Walter Ross; Elizabeth Smart; Laura Smither; Adam Walsh.

Susan O'Brien is Professor of Medicine, Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.