Kidnapped!

1580 Words4 Pages

Every year there are countless amounts of kidnappings. With the majority of the victims being white females between the ages of twelve and seventeen. Sadly, approximately ninety percent of the abductors are men and in half of the cases, the victims were sexually assaulted (Krajicik).

The definition of kidnapping is taking away a person against his or her will through force or threat and holding such person in false imprisonment; holding a person without any legal authority or right to do so. There are many reasons this horrible crime is committed. Some kidnap for ransom, to succeed in other crimes, gain custody of their child, and even political reasons. Although most of us associate strangers to be the committers of such a crime, a lot of victims are actually kidnapped by someone they know or even a relative ("Criminal Law Lawyer Source").

There is actually a list of criteria that must be met for someone to be considered kidnapping an individual. The kidnapper must be holding the victim for ransom, reward, or any other condition of release; using the victim as a shield for themselves or a hostage; interfering with any government or political activity; use them to commit another crime; or to harm to victim or their family ("Criminal Law Lawyer Source").

In the United States, not only is their severe punishment for committing such an act as kidnapping, but even attempting to kidnap an individual results in a penalty. Kidnapping is now a federal crime due to the Lindbergh Act; enacted after the child of Charles Lindbergh, a famous American aviator, was kidnapped (Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia).

Over the past twenty-five years, the amount of missing persons reports has sharply increase from 150,000 to 900,000...

... middle of paper ...

...ld Almanac Education Group. Ebsco. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. .

Conant, Eve, Arian Campo-Flores, Catharine Skipp, John Barry, and Dan Ephron. "The Enemy Within." Newsweek 23 Mar. 2009: 36- 39. Ebsco. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. .

Molla, Jordi. Emotional Kidnapping. 2003. Madrid, Spain. Picasso Mio. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. http://www.picassomio.com/jordi- molla/15466.html.

Buckley, Madeline. "BRIEF: Police: Man kidnaps ex-wife, arrested at courthouse." Brownsville Herald, The (TX) 07 Feb. 2012: Newspaper Source. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

More about Kidnapped!

Open Document