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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