AST August 2018 Magazine Aug 2018 Final (8.14.18) | Page 31

International
Volume 26 parental kidnapping,
whether as a result of a parent or other
person taking or wrongfully retaining a
child with the intent to obstruct the law-
ful exercise of parental rights, merits the
full and timely attention of law enforce-
ment.
efficiently to reports regarding
what many
August 2018 Edition
term “family kidnappings” become, in effect, a
means of protection for the child (Findlay and
Lowery, 2011).
This guide is for local, state, and fed-
eral law enforcement authorities who
respond to international parental
The child (or children) should be considered to child kidnapping cases.
be in danger, especially when the person tak-
ing or retaining the child has previously threat- It suggests methods for preventing international
ened to abduct or harm the child or them-
child kidnappings by family members; describes
selves, or is otherwise unstable.
In these cases, the law enforce-
ment responsibility is much
broader than the simple act of
retrieving the child.
A Law Enforcement Guide
on International Parental
Kidnapping describes
law enforcement’s role
as initial responders and
investigators of kidnap-
ping crimes, discusses
applicable laws and legal
remedies for child recov-
ery and reunification, and
outlines considerations for
criminal prosecution and
extradition of offenders.
Officers, and the agencies
they represent, who respond
promptly, professionally, and
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