NCJ Number
149220
Date Published
1994
Length
116 pages
Annotation
This handbook informs parents and criminal justice professionals how to prevent family abduction and what to do if a child is abducted by a noncustodial parent or relative.
Abstract
The chapter on preventing an abduction explains how to set up satisfactory and legally enforceable custody and visitation agreements. Other preventive steps may require involving the police or prosecutor, teaching the child how to use the telephone, and notifying schools and daycare centers of custody arrangements. If a child has been abducted, the chapter on civil remedies presents a list of procedures to regain the child by working with family courts and other civil resources. The chapter on criminal remedies explains how to work with police and prosecutor by initiating a missing person's investigation. The following chapter lists numerous ways and resources through which the parent can help the investigation. Next, the process of legally recovering a child after it has been found is outlined. A chapter on international child abductions focuses on the special complications and resources if the child has been taken out of the United States. The final two chapters discuss the psychological issues involved in recovery and family reunification as well as the impact of abduction on children. A l ist of additional readings and numerous resources is appended.