When a teenager returns home, the missing episode may be over. But the story often isn’t.

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The Missing: When Teens Return – A Criminologist’s Perspective looks beyond the search for a missing teenager to the critical period after their return.

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Drawing on professional experience and criminological insight, Michaela B Kempson MA,BSc explores what may be hidden behind a missing episode, including exploitation, coercion, vulnerability and unresolved harm. Rather than focusing solely on why teenagers go missing, the book asks a different and important question:

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What happens when teens return?

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Written for parents, carers, professionals, and those wanting to better understand missing teenagers, The Missing offers insight into recognising risk, understanding behaviour, and responding to what a young person’s return may reveal.

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Coming home does not always mean they are safe. What happens next can be crucial.