Third day of the fifth month of 2011, Julian Maldonado was jailed for coercing a runaway teenager to sell her body for money. The young girl contracted the virus that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome as a result. His wife, who was the other defendant in the case, got eight years. The case also shone a spotlight on the vexing issue of teenage runaways.
There are many reasons why a child would run away from their house, or any alternative care facility such as a group and foster homes. Some may be kidnapped by strangers or absent parents; others are chased away by their legal caregivers, and not allowed to come back. There is a small group who simply overstay their visits. A large majority, however, leave willingly, their goal being never to come back.
Going by data made available by the American government, there were slightly over one and half million runaways in 1999. Most fall into the fifteen to seventeen year old age bracket. Very few were below fourteen. While kids from any socioeconomic background can run away from home, the large majority come from lower income and working class backgrounds. Experts speculate that the pressure of dealing with resource constraints may be underlying this fact.
The data also shows that children from alternative care facilities are more likely to escape than those from normal family backgrounds. Older kids are more likely to take off than younger ones, and the chances of that happening are highest in the first few months after placement. Those who run away from foster homes are more likely to go farther away than their counterparts from normal backgrounds.
The perception that many people have of kids who have run away from home is that they end up on the streets. This, however, is true to a very small extent. Many kids take off to a friend's or a relative's house, where they are safe. The few who conform to the street kid stereotype are most likely to end up being abused or engaging in criminal behavior. Policy makers and law enforcers are burning the midnight oil trying to find ways to reach these kids.
While policemen and women are concerned about runaway teenagers, they do not give as high a priority as they should to such cases. Most police officers hold the perception that a large number of parents are unable to keep their children in check, and expect them to play that role. Also, many children who run away never want to go back home. If they are forced to do so, they are most likely to take off again.
Most police stations do not have the kind of facilities that can handle teenagers that have run away, since they are designed to process criminals. Because law enforcement agencies have competing demands on their time and resources, they have to choose between such cases and more serious threats.
Teenagers who run away from home generally suffer from low self esteem and depression, and this constantly leads them to engage in risky behaviour such as unprotected sex, taking drugs and so on. Most of these problems stem from a child's background, and that is the best place to solve them. This will prevent such people as Julian Maldonado preying on them.
There are many reasons why a child would run away from their house, or any alternative care facility such as a group and foster homes. Some may be kidnapped by strangers or absent parents; others are chased away by their legal caregivers, and not allowed to come back. There is a small group who simply overstay their visits. A large majority, however, leave willingly, their goal being never to come back.
Going by data made available by the American government, there were slightly over one and half million runaways in 1999. Most fall into the fifteen to seventeen year old age bracket. Very few were below fourteen. While kids from any socioeconomic background can run away from home, the large majority come from lower income and working class backgrounds. Experts speculate that the pressure of dealing with resource constraints may be underlying this fact.
The data also shows that children from alternative care facilities are more likely to escape than those from normal family backgrounds. Older kids are more likely to take off than younger ones, and the chances of that happening are highest in the first few months after placement. Those who run away from foster homes are more likely to go farther away than their counterparts from normal backgrounds.
The perception that many people have of kids who have run away from home is that they end up on the streets. This, however, is true to a very small extent. Many kids take off to a friend's or a relative's house, where they are safe. The few who conform to the street kid stereotype are most likely to end up being abused or engaging in criminal behavior. Policy makers and law enforcers are burning the midnight oil trying to find ways to reach these kids.
While policemen and women are concerned about runaway teenagers, they do not give as high a priority as they should to such cases. Most police officers hold the perception that a large number of parents are unable to keep their children in check, and expect them to play that role. Also, many children who run away never want to go back home. If they are forced to do so, they are most likely to take off again.
Most police stations do not have the kind of facilities that can handle teenagers that have run away, since they are designed to process criminals. Because law enforcement agencies have competing demands on their time and resources, they have to choose between such cases and more serious threats.
Teenagers who run away from home generally suffer from low self esteem and depression, and this constantly leads them to engage in risky behaviour such as unprotected sex, taking drugs and so on. Most of these problems stem from a child's background, and that is the best place to solve them. This will prevent such people as Julian Maldonado preying on them.
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