More about Missing or Runaway / Thrownaway Teens
Runaways have sometimes been referred to as the voluntary missing, to distinguish them from abducted and lost children. However, this term misstates the nature and complexity of the problem. It is generally recognized that children who leave home prematurely often do so as a result of intense family conflict or even physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. Children may leave to protect themselves or because they are no longer wanted in the home. The term voluntary does not properly apply to such situations.

An estimated 38,600 runaways/thrownaways8 were at risk of sexual endangerment or exploitation by one or more of the following characteristics or behaviors during the episode: the youth was sexually assaulted, there was an attempted sexual assault of the youth, the youth was in the company of someone known to be sexually abusive, or the youth engaged in sexual activity in exchange for money, drugs, food, or shelter during the episode.

Endangered Runaway Teens and the circumstances

Child had been physically or sexually abused at home in the year prior to the episode or was afraid of abuse upon return 350,400 21%

Child was substance dependent 317,800 19%

Child was 13 years old or younger 305,300 18%

Child was in the company of someone known to be abusing drugs 302,100 18%

Child was using hard drugs 292,000 17%

Child spent time in a place where criminal activity was known to occur 256,900 12%

Child engaged in criminal activity during the course of the episode 197,400 11%

Child was with a violent person 125,400 7%

Child had previously attempted suicide 70,500 4%

Child was physically assaulted or someone attempted to physically assault child during the course of the episode 69,100 4%

Child was with a sexually exploitative person 27,300 2% (Estimate based on too few sample cases to be reliable. Other studies have shown this figure to be substantially higher.)

Child had a serious mental illness or developmental disability at the time of the episode 24,300 1% (Estimate based on too few sample cases to be reliable.)

Child was sexually assaulted or someone attempted to sexually assault child during the course of the episode 14,900 1% (Estimate based on too few sample cases to be reliable. Other studies have shown this figure to be substantially higher.)

Child’s whereabouts were unknown to the caretaker for at least 30 days (and the episode was unresolved or no information was available) 7,300 <1% (Estimate based on too few sample cases to be reliable.)

Child engaged in sexual activity in exchange for money, drugs, food, or shelter during the episode 1700 <1% (Estimate based on too few sample cases to be reliable. Other studies have shown this figure to be substantially higher.)

To read the entire PDF file from the study by NISMART that many of these statistics are based on, Click here.

Statistical Data on Statuatory Rape (PDF)

Statistics on Teenagers/Juveniles as Victims (PDF)