abduction
Abduction refers to the criminal taking or capture of an individual against their will or without their consent , generally by means of persuasion, fraud or force. Abduction and kidnapping are often used interchangeably but the specific elements of criminal abductions can vary by jurisdiction. For example, in Virginia § 18.2-47 which states that “Any person who, by force, intimidation or deception , and without legal justification or excuse, seizes, takes, transports, detains or secretes another person with the intent to deprive such other person of [their] personal liberty or to withhold or conceal [them] from any person, authority or institution lawfully entitled to [their] charge, shall be deemed guilty of ‘abduction.’”
Federal Statutes
- 34 USC Chapter 205 , Amber Alert
State Statutes
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997) ( a version is adopted in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia )
Additional Resources
-
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- 1-800-843-5678
-
National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Call: 1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711) Text: 233733
[Last reviewed in February of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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