Lovelette Brooks, News Editor

THEY ARE about 15 years old, troubled, and on the brink. Many have made the decision to take matters - and their feet - into their own hands, and run.

Recent data from the National Investigation Bureau of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) show that between June 2008 and June 2009, more than 1,200 teens between ages 13 and 17 years have run away from home. Of this number, 924 are girls. And a highly placed police source told The Sunday Gleaner that 70-80 per cent of the runaway girls are 15 to 16 years old.

This is consistent with recent research published on the website troubledteenhelp.com, which shows that most runaway adolescents (68 per cent) are older teens, ages 15-17.

Occurred during summer

"At these ages, youth are often more independent, tend to resist parental authority, are more likely to become involved in activities that bring them into conflict with their caretakers," the research cited. It also stated that a larger number of runaway episodes occurred during the summer, a time when young people are more mobile.

In January of this year, 101 children went missing. Of this number, only 49 were returned or found.

Most of the teenagers with whom The Sunday Gleaner spoke admitted that they had contemplated running away from home, citing intense family conflict, sexual, or psychological abuse as push factors.

Is life better for these troubled teens on the run? No, not necessarily, said Dr Glenda Simms, gender expert. "During their runaway episode, many teenagers had been endangered by factors, such as substance dependency, use of hard drugs, sexual or physical abuse."

Anecdotal information suggests that more than 80 per cent of missing teens are eventually located and reunited with their parents, or contact made with guardians. Dr Simms is concerned that many teens who have not voluntarily returned home may have "been murdered, trafficked to other places or lost forever".

Worrying trend

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke says this is a worrying trend. "We do not know what is happening to the teens while they are on the run, and too many cases are outstanding," she said.

Information from the police indicates that in 2006, of the 1,662 persons who were reported missing, 35 were confirmed dead. The figures hiked in 2007, as 38 persons of the 1,298 persons missing were found dead. The trend has continued, as last year, 55 persons were confirmed dead of the 1,446 persons who were reported missing.

lovelette.brooks@gleanerjm.com