From: lindae@netcom.com ()
Subject: Preventing an Abduction
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 00:54:08 GMT
Expires: Fri, 09 Oct 92 07:00:00 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 


The Poster of This Information:

I am a volunteer with an organization called Child Quest International.
Child Quest, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a non-profit organizationdevoted to the protection and recovery of missing, abused, and
exploited children.  More information can be obtained by calling
(408) 492-1122.


The following information, although posted by Child Quest, comes from
the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.  Please read it
carefully.

THERE ARE MANY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO PREVENT AN
ABDUCTION OR REPEAT ABDUCTIONS.  LIMITING VISITATION RIGHTS IS A GOOD
PLACE TO BEGIN.  THE PREVENTION SUGGESTION BELOW WILL
ALSO HELP REDUCE THE CHANCES OF A PARENTAL KIDNAPPING.

Prevention for Parents:
  
1.) Ask the Police or Prosecutor to Intervene.  If an abduction is
threatened, ask the police or the local prosecutor to contact the
would-be abductor.  They should advise him or her that taking a child
is a crime and that the offender could be imprisoned or fined, or both.
Do not ignore threats of abduction made by the other parent, especially
if the abductor has recently quit a job, sold a home, terminated a lease,
closed a bank account, or taken any other action to prepare for flight.
Such threats may indicate a growing frustration that may motivate him or
her to disappear with the child.

2.) Teach your child to use the telephone.  Teach your child his or her full name and how to use the telephone to call home.  Make sure your child knows
your telephone number and area code.  Practice calling the operator and
making collect calls, and tell your child that you will always accept a
collect call.  Your child should be instructed to call home immediately
if anything unusual happens or if anyone tells the child that you are
dead or do not love the child anymore.  Make sure that your children
understand that you will always love them and want to share your life
with them.

3.)  Notify Schools, Daycare Center, and Babysitters of Custody Orders.
Certified copies of your custody decree should be placed in your child's
school files and given to teachers, daycare personnel, and babysitters.
Tell these individuals about your custody arrangements and any threats
made by the noncustodial parent to snatch the child.  Ask to be alerted
immediately if the noncustodial parent makes any unscheduled visits to the
school, daycare center, or babysitter, and request them to prevent the
child from leaving the grounds with the noncustodial parent without your 
permission....

4.)  Treat Child Support and Visitation as Separate Issues.  One of the
greatest sources of tension after a divorce centers upon child support.
If a noncustodial parent is late in paying support or does not pay
at all, the custodial parent may try to "get even" by refusing to allow
visits, and the noncustodial parent may then become frustrated
and angry enough to snatch the child.  Or, conversely, the cycle may
begin when the custodial parent interferes with visitation and
the noncustodial parent retaliates by refusing to pay support.

As difficult as it may be, these two issues -- child support and
visitation -- must be treated as separate.  In most areas, the 
refusal to pay child support is not a legal ground for denying
visitation.  Also, the denial of visitation is not a legal ground
for failing to pay child support.  The custodial parent should allow
visits and at the same time go to court to collect the child support.  The
noncustodial parent should pay support and at the same time go to court
to enforce visitation rights....

5.)  Keep Lists of Information.  The custodial parent should keep a current
list of the addresses and telephone numbers of all the relatives and friends of the noncustodial parent.  It is also useful to make note of the
other parent's Social Security number and license plate number and other
information....that will help you locate the parent if an abduction occurs.
   

				MORE TO COME......


Keeping Hope Alive,
Child Quest International
lindae@netcom.com




Xref: sparky alt.native:990 alt.config:5742