Generally, kidnapping means holding a person against his or her will in a confined space. It also means moving a person from one location to another without his or her consent. In some cases, the incident would have to include another criminal element, such as extortion, to be classified as a kidnapping.
Kidnapping is covered under state law. It is also covered under federal law. That means that a person could be charged with a state crime or a federal crime, depending on the circumstances of the case. In the case of a federal crime, kidnapping is very serious. A person convicted of kidnapping under the felony criminal code could face a prison sentence of 30 years or more.
In some cases, a parent kidnaps a child that he or she don’t have custody of. This is called parental kidnapping or parental abduction. This is also a serious crime that can be tried under federal or state laws. People who are convicted under the federal law face 3 years in prison.
Anyone who is charged with kidnapping should work quickly to get his or her defense started. This gives you time to explore the options and decide how you want to handle your case.
Source: FindLaw, “Kidnapping,” accessed June 25, 2015
