Introduction
Child kidnapping is a global issue that affects countries all over the world. It can be defined as a terrifying crime involving the illegal or unauthorized removal of a child from their parents or guardians (Hilson 91). From a legal perspective, child kidnapping is a criminal act of unjustly detaining and concealing a child. It occurs for various reasons and has serious consequences for both the child and the parents. In the U.S., statistics show that the number of child abductions is declining due to the involvement of relevant stakeholders in finding a solution (Hilson 97). However, technology is promoting child abduction because it is used to achieve the objectives of kidnappers. For example, child abductors use social media platforms to communicate with the victims. Although child kidnapping still exists in society, the number has been declining because of the stringent measures conducted by the government and other related agencies.
The Rate of Child Abduction by Strangers
There has been a decline in child abduction cases in the U.S. over the past ten years. According to Hilson, about 115 children are abducted by strangers every year in the U.S. (95). However, there has been a decline in the number of children being kidnapped by strangers. FBI claims that less than 350 children abducted by strangers have been reported annually since 2010 (Hilson 97). The disappearance of children in the U.S. is not unheard of, and it is an issue that police and other related authorities are working hard to solve. The authorities are working to conceal all the gaps previously used by kidnappers to stop any instance of kidnapping.
The Reasons for The Decline in Child Abduction by Strangers
The U.S. government has intensified awareness programs to educate parents and guardians on preventing child abduction by strangers. Child abductors usually look like everyday people in society. The abductors take advantage of their difficulty being noticed to carry out their plan. Duggan says, “the woman in the bus depot, the perpetrator, was amiable and chatty, Eleanor Williams tearfully told the police.” The perpetrator who took away Eleanor Williams presented herself as friendly. Based on this, parents are often advised to tell their children not to talk to people they do not know. Anytime they are approached by a stranger, a child should immediately check with a parent or trusted friend. Therefore, parents and guardians are being advised to prevent child abduction by telling their children to refrain from talking to strangers.
The educators have also played a role in the eradication of child kidnapping. Over the past few decades, various organizations have developed initiatives to inform educators that they are an important asset in eliminating the abduction of children (Stark 57). Educators are trained to inform students on prevention measures and promote children’s safety, especially in school. For instance, schools were identified as a target for the mass abduction of children. As a result, educators have been informed to increase the safety of children when in school. One of the measures adopted to improve the safety of children in school is supervision (Stark 57). When in school, there is always someone watching over the children. Thus, educators have joined hands in the fight against children abduction.
The office of Children’s Issues has continued to offer services to help in preventing child abduction cases by partnering with parents and other stakeholders. They work with parents, private firms, and government agencies in the U.S. to prevent and resolve abduction (Collins 30). The office has responded to thousands of inquiries around child abduction, abduction prevention techniques, and many more. Parents learn that individuals who prey on children would wait for an opportunity alone through the inquiries. Children should not be left alone outside their homes (Collins 26). Therefore, the office has played an integral role in the decline in child abduction cases by creating awareness of prevention strategies.
Over the past few years, the U.S. has increased police deployment in their cities to prevent crime. According to Statista, the number of full-time law enforcement officers in the U.S. was 626,942 and 696,644 in 2013 and 2020, respectively. The main intention for adding more law enforcement officers was to increase surveillance and quick response to a crime. As a result, it was determined that crime decreased significantly on high-alert days. This means that the criminals like those conducting child abduction fear the presence of police in a given area. With the high presence of police in an area, the kidnappers find it hard to conduct their operations. Therefore, based on the high number of police on patrols, crimes such as child kidnapping have been reduced significantly.
Child kidnapping has declined because of the attention given to it by law enforcers. It is a serious crime that carries severe penalties such as hefty fines and lengthy jail terms for convicted individuals. Kidnapping is classified as a felony offense in all states in the U.S. (Collins 32). However, each state has varying degrees of felonies with varied sentences associated with them. More severe punishments are often imposed when the victim is a kid or has been harmed, sexually abused, or in danger. The attention attached to kidnapping has played a role in reducing the crime because they fear being arrested and convicted. Thus, anyone who thinks of kidnapping must be prepared for severe penalties.
An individual convicted of kidnapping can be imprisoned, fined, or placed on probation. First, abduction verdicts could lead to lengthy jail terms or even life sentences in some circumstances and regions. Punishment of 20 years or more is given for first-degree and a minimum of five years or more for second-degree abduction (Phenix 89). Second, in addition to prison sentences, abduction convictions incur large fines. Convictions for severe kidnapping could lead to $50,000 or more fines, whereas prosecutions for simple kidnapping could lead to $10,000 or more (Phenix 94). Third, a person convicted of abduction may also be sentenced to probation. The three stringent penalties may be responsible for a decline in child kidnapping.
The case of Gloria Williams is crucial when talking about the adverse effect of engaging in the kidnapping. According to Sanchez, “Gloria Williams, who nearly two decades ago took a baby girl from a Florida hospital and raised the child as her own, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for kidnapping.” The sentence includes a five-year concurrent sentence for custodial interference added pain to the convict. In summation, Gloria William must serve about 23 years in prison. The conviction sends a strong message to kidnappers in the U.S. and across the globe that the venture has serious penalties. Individual thinking to continue or start the crime understands the repercussions involved when convicted. Therefore, the conviction might have scared some individuals from undertaking the crime.
The coordination of law enforcers and commitment has helped reduce the cases of abductions. When a local law enforcement emergency communications center receives a report about a kidnapped child, the operator who answers the call should implement the agency’s missing children policy and protocols and gather information as feasible (Phenix 90). In all circumstances, an officer or deputy should be dispatched promptly to take the report in person from the parent who has been left behind. In some cases, such as when a child kidnapping is underway, an investigator will begin taking action while the initial responding officer is on their way to the complaint (Phenix 89). The procedure and integration of operations by responsible agencies have assisted in dealing with abduction cases.
Technology Has Increased the Risk of Child Abduction
Social media is being used as a platform of operation for child abductors. When compared to alternative approaches, such as a physical meeting, possible child abductors use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms to get access to and lure youngsters. In some cases, a child is lured digitally to interact with an abductor in vivo, resulting in their abduction contrary to their will (Willemo 29). In addition, because the Internet is available to individuals of all ages, possible abductors may mislead children by impersonating someone their age and building a false trust bond. Although most social media and social networking websites and applications have a stated minimum age of 13, young minors can and regularly have options to gain access.
The case of a Tennessee man charged with kidnapping a girl after social media exchange is a good example of using social media by kidnappers to accomplish their goals. As shown in the case, the man conversed with the girl through social media (Rogers). Social media provides the best platform for kidnappers and other criminals to lay traps for their victims. It seems the man portrayed himself as friendly to the girl through social media to build trust. This explains why he effectively convinced the girl to leave with him. According to the authorities, the girl has communicated with the man for a long (Rogers). Therefore, with social media, children are not safe from kidnappers and other criminal elements.
Kidnappers have resulted in the use of drones to track and kidnap children. One of the key uses of drone technology is tracking. Criminals have been trapped into this to facilitate their kidnapping operations. For example, there is a case of Mennonite imposters who used drones to track children in attempted kidnappings (Rohrlich). In this case, it is stated that the imposters tracked the movement of five children for a kidnapping coup. With the use of drone technology, a criminal can effectively monitor the movement of their victims and strike when there is an opportunity. Drone technology gives them the ability to operate without being watched. As a result, children are no longer safe because they can be watched and kidnapped.
Kidnappers use transport technology as a pathway to and from crime. Most of the kidnappings are usually conducted using a vehicle. The existence of armored vehicles has enhanced criminal activities in society (McGuire and Thomas 290). These types of vehicles increase an individual’s morale in committing a crime because of the perception of being immune to any bullet in case of a shoot-out. In addition, kidnappers use highly mechanized vehicles because of their speed and efficiency when escaping after conducting their activities. With these vehicles, the criminals believe they can get away after a crime. Therefore, armored and advanced vehicles can also facilitate criminal activities.
Moreover, using electronic jammers to thwart tracking by criminals makes their operations successful and affects victims’ security. A GPS jammer is a type of signal jammer that works by interfering with the signals sent by GPS devices to satellites. GPS blocking works by broadcasting louder signals on the same frequency as GPS devices (McGuire and Thomas 290). GPS jammers can overcrowd the frequency and overpower GPS signals, preventing GPS systems from detecting the correct signals. Based on this, the police cannot track the vehicle used to commit the crime. This means that a kidnapper can get away after committing their crime (McGuire and Thomas 298). Therefore, children are unsafe because they can be abducted without trace electronic jammers.
Despite the fact that technology has increased criminal activities, there are several examples of how it can help crime prevention. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is one of the technologies that can increase the security of a given area (McGuire and Thomas 295). It is intended to strengthen formal monitoring by making it easier for police or other organizations to monitor residents’ activities, including potential offenders. In addition, CCTV is intended to dissuade illegal behavior by increasing the danger of detection. Using this technology, police officers and other individuals can identify suspicious individuals prior to committing a crime. Thus, CCTV technology can be used to prevent crime.
Social media can also be used as a tool for protecting children from criminals. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others can be used to share important information about criminals as well as the tactics they use (Willemo 29). For example, a picture of a criminal can be circulated through social media. The police can also use the platform to educate the public on preventing crimes such as children abduction. Many people are likely to benefit and apply the strategies due to the large number of social media users across the globe. There are a good number of children using Facebook and other platforms to communicate with their friends (Willemo 29). These children are likely to learn the strategies kidnappers use from educative posts and develop a counter mechanism. As a result, criminals would not succeed in carrying out their plans with an informed public.
Conclusion
Child kidnapping by strangers is a traumatizing event because of the panic it causes victims, police, and the general public. As a result, it has attracted the attention of various stakeholders, including parents, educators, government agencies, and many others. In the U.S., the stakeholders working together have contributed to the steady decline of child kidnapping. The U.S. government and other agencies educate the parents and teachers to help prevent child abduction. However, technology has played a major role in enhancing child kidnapping. For example, child abductors use social media to communicate with children to lay their traps. Thus, child abduction has gained the attention of many across the globe because of its adverse impact on victims and the entire society.
Works Cited
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