Parental kidnapping happens when one parent takes a child without the other parent’s agreement. It can happen when there is a custody arrangement in place or when no formal agreement exists. The violating parent may face criminal prosecution and hefty fines or loss of visiting and custody rights.
Kidnapping’s Potential Consequences
When one parent kidnaps a child from marriage during the divorce process or after the divorce is finalized, they may face civil or criminal repercussions or both. This might result in fines, prison time, or programs deemed required by the court. Civil penalties can result from the loss of custody, the loss of visitation rights, the necessity to give more compensation to the other parent or the child, or even the suspension of parental rights throughout all parental interactions with the youngster and the other parent. Civil penalties may be imposed based on what the other parent and the judge deem necessary.
Arrangements for Custody
When a parent believes they do not have enough time with the child, want to retaliate against the other parent, or another unspecified situation develops, they may kidnap the child. In these cases, one option for the other parent is to modify child custody arrangements after the child returns home. This typically eliminates the likelihood of another kidnapping or reduces the possibility of the other parent removing the adolescent far enough away in a small amount of time. However, to recover the child and bring the kidnapper to justice, the other parent must collaborate with police authorities first.
Criminal Law Regarding Parental Kidnapping
When a parent abducts their child, law enforcement authorities are called in and must interfere in child and family matters. This is required for domestic violence, abduction, and other crimes that need criminal prosecution. This may necessitate arresting the parent and rescuing the child or discovering where the two are. These parental abduction situations include federal and state laws, and depending on the circumstances, both authorities may be required to investigate the problem at the federal and state levels.
Transitioning from State to Federal Jurisdiction
In most cases, state law enforcement will begin the inquiry into a child kidnapping with a parent. This probe might begin locally and lead to the two providing an immediate solution. If the parent crosses state lines or is not located promptly, the Federal Bureau of Investigations may become involved and broaden the scope of searches. If multiple states are engaged in the kidnapping, it may result in a bigger search with harsher criminal repercussions. If further offenses are committed, or the child is harmed, the parent may face greater penalties in a criminal court.
Changing Custody After a Kidnapping
When the child comes home, the custodial parent can modify the custody agreement to avoid similar offenses from occurring in the future. When the crime is finished, one parent can typically refuse the other parent joint or primary custody. The kidnapper may lose temporary or permanent custody rights and unsupervised visits for the duration of the child’s minor-hood due to the illegal behavior. The conditions and sanctions in the courts differ depending on the state and the judge. Then comes the task of enforcing the directive.
The Key Disputes
Even if only one nation is involved in parental kidnapping, the perpetrator is generally caught up in civil and criminal proceedings. When a parent crosses state or national lines, the Federal Bureau of Investigations becomes involved. The consequences can place the individual in jail or prison in either a state or federal penitentiary, and the parent might be kept there for years. These criminal repercussions frequently result in genuine loss of parental rights throughout the length and long after the parent’s freedom is restored.
Legal Aid for Parental Kidnapping
If a parent is accused of parental kidnapping, they will require a criminal and civil counsel to fight the allegations and obtain a not guilty verdict. Then, to safeguard their legal parental rights and avoid further repercussions, they must explain the situation to the judge.
Contact Lamb, Carroll, Papp and Cunabaugh, P.C., Attorneys at Law today for legal help.