Why is it important for law enforcement to classify someone as missing versus a runaway?
There have been many systemic issues surrounding law enforcement in the minority community. They’ve been bringing their stereotypes and biases into the equation. They aren’t taking these cases seriously, and they aren’t adding resources to it which really hinders finding the missing individual. So, it’s so important to classify our children correctly. They’re not all running away. And if you are classified as a runaway, you do not receive the Amber Alert and you definitely don’t receive any media coverage at all. We’ve seen an uptick in sex trafficking cases and these children are classified as runaways.
Be mindful that [law enforcement] are the first line to the news media. So, if they are classifying a child as a runaway they’re not taken seriously, the community isn’t taken seriously. We have this perception that she or he is “fast” and they’re getting what they deserve. No, these are children and we know that within 24 to 48 hours of being on the street, they’re lured into sex trafficking.
We need to look at what they are running away from if they are running away. And ultimately, what are they running away to? They have to survive and the pimps and pedophiles know that they need safety, food, and security. So, they have to sell their bodies. They’re being raped; a child cannot consent to sex. We really have to take a closer look at the classification, which impacts the case with media involvement and have the community take an action.
