NCJ Number
186160
Date Published
Annotation
This paper summarizes the primary findings of a study that
examined the criminal justice system's response to parental
abduction, which involves one parent preventing the other parent
from having any access to a child.
Abstract
The study consisted of three phases: a nationally representative
survey of police agencies and prosecutors' offices; site visits
to six counties where a larger-than-average number of parental
abduction cases were prosecuted; and a review of individual
parental abduction case files in the law enforcement agencies and
prosecutors' offices of three of the six jurisdictions visited.
The study examined all facets of the criminal justice system's
response, including the reporting of the incident, investigation
of the case, location and recovery of the child, and criminal
prosecution of the abductor. Findings indicate that the criminal
justice system in general is paying relatively little attention
to the crime of parental abduction, even though it is a crime in
all 50 States and the District of Columbia. Agencies with
effective responses tended to have statutory authority to
intervene, agency leaders and staff committed to combating
parental abduction, personnel who specialize in the handling of
such cases, coordinated agency response, good agency management
practices, and access to supportive services. Several
individuals, including project staff and those in the field,
commented that in addressing the problem of parental abduction,
the focus on the child as victim was often lost. The parent from
whom the child was abducted was often viewed as the aggrieved
party. Consequently, the child's interests, in contrast to
his or her parents' interests, may become secondary. Criminal
justice leaders, legislators, and others in a position to support
and implement specialized programs of intervention must operate
under the motivation and awareness that parental abduction can be
a form of serious child maltreatment, and it is a crime in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. Recommendations are offered for legal reforms and programmatic and policy reforms. 3 figures and 4 references
Date Created: August 12, 2014