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

State Statutes

Additional Resources

[Last reviewed in February of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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