U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON
 

International Parental 

Kidnapping 
U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

810 Seventh Street NW. 

Washington, DC 20531 

Caren Harp 

Administrator 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

Office of Justice Programs 

Building Solutions • Supporting Communities • Advancing Justice 

ojp.gov 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

Enhancing Safety • Ensuring Accountability • Empowering Youth 

ojjdp.gov 

Photos used in this report: Copyright © 2018 Shutterstock. 

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, 

which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute 

of Justice; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, 

Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON
 

International Parental 

Kidnapping 

July 2018 • NCJ 250606 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Foreword 

I

nternational parental kidnappings know neither boundaries nor borders. Children are 

wrongfully taken daily—often by a family member. When a child is wrongfully taken to 

or wrongfully retained in a foreign country, the obstacles of dissimilar legal systems, 

increased time constraints, international boundaries, and language barriers complicate 

efforts to return a child home safely. 

Although international parental kidnapping cases present formidable challenges, they 

can be lessened when law enforcement actions are timely and informed. Access to the 

necessary information and resources is critical. This guide provides law enforcement with 

the information they need to work effectively with parents to locate and reconnect with 

their children and to investigate and prosecute criminal offenders. 

This guide is for local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who are called upon 

to respond to the unlawful removal or retention of a child outside of the United States. 

It suggests ways to prevent child kidnapping and discusses the applicable law and 

legal remedies both as to the return of children and any investigation or prosecution of 

abducting or retaining parents. The guide describes the role of law enforcement as the 

initial responder and investigator and offers strategies for the reunification and recovery 

of children as well as the criminal pursuit of offending parents. 

Our hope is that, equipped with this guide, the law enforcement community will have 

the tools required to protect our children from the dangers of international parental child 

kidnapping, to reunite the victims of this crime with their families, and to bring offenders 

to justice. 

Caren Harp 

Administrator 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

iii 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Acknowledgments 

T

he Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is grateful to 

the many people who contributed to this guide, especially members of the Federal 

Agency Task Force on Missing and Exploited Children. OJJDP also wants to thank 

the many individuals who made significant contributions to the guide by serving on the 

working group, especially Ann McGahuey and Rush Marburg from the U.S. Department 

of State Office of Children’s Issues; Scott Schelble, Steve Skinner, Ashli-Jade Douglas, 

and Brian Fagan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Maureen Heads and Preston 

Findlay from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; Customs and Border 

Protection’s National Targeting Center; Karin Fojtik from the U.S. Department of Justice 

Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys; Jennifer Toritto Leonardo from the U.S. Department 

of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; S. Terry Schubert from the U.S. 

Department of Justice Office of International Affairs; and C. Dean Hinkle and David 

Koontz from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Because of the working group’s commitment to addressing these issues, perseverance 

in preparing this document, and dedication to the families and agencies that face these 

difficult issues, this guide will be a resource for law enforcement officers throughout 

the country. 

Special thanks go to the professionals who gave their expertise, energy, and talents to 

ensure that this document provides law enforcement agencies with the information 

they need. This includes Helen N. Connelly, Nadia Eley, and Melissa Blasing of Fox Valley 

Technical College. 

v 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Contents 

Foreword ..........................................................................................................................iii
 

Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................v
 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................1
 

Chapter 1. Putting the Issue in Perspective ...................................................................3
 

Impact of Parental Kidnapping on Children..................................................................................3
 

Statistical Overview ....................................................................................................................3
 

Risk Factors for Kidnapping ........................................................................................................4
 

Civil Remedies ............................................................................................................................4
 

Criminal Remedies ......................................................................................................................5
 

Passports and Complications of Dual Nationality ........................................................................6
 

Chapter 2. Preventing International Parental 


Kidnapping........................................................................................................................7
 

Kidnapping Prevention for Law Enforcement .............................................................................7
 

Kidnapping Prevention for Parents...............................................................................................8
 

Chapter 3. Initial Response.................................................................................11
 

The Role of the Dispatcher ........................................................................................................11
 

Exigent Circumstances: Stopping a Kidnapping or Attempted 


Intercepting the Child and Taking Parent in 


The First Responder ..................................................................................................................12
 

The National Crime Information Center Entry ...........................................................................14
 

 Kidnapping in Progress ..........................................................................................................15
 

 the United States ..................................................................................................................17
 

Intercepting the Child and Taking Parent Abroad .......................................................................20
 

Chapter 4.The Continuing Investigation ......................................................................23
 

Understanding Local, State, and Federal Investigative Roles ...................................................23
 

Conducting the Investigation ....................................................................................................25
 

Investigative Resources ............................................................................................................29
 

Working With the Left-Behind Parent ........................................................................................32
 

vii 
viii OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Chapter 5. Federal and Nonfederal Resources.............................................................35
 

U.S. Department of State ..........................................................................................................35
 

U.S. Department of Justice .......................................................................................................41
 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security ....................................................................................44
 

U.S. Department of Defense .....................................................................................................45
 

Office of Personnel Management..............................................................................................46
 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office......................................................................46
 

Federal Parent Locator Service .................................................................................................46
 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ....................................................................48
 

State Missing Children Clearinghouses.....................................................................................49
 

Chapter 6. Criminal Prosecution and Extradition ........................................................51
 

Charging Considerations............................................................................................................51
 

Prosecution Options .....................................................................................................54
 

Extraditing the Taking Parent ..........................................................................................57
 

Chapter 7. Mechanisms for Child Recovery ..................................................................61
 

Child Recovery Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and 


 Enforcement Act: A Role for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement..........................................62
 

Child Recovery From Hague Countries .....................................................................................63
 

Child Recovery From Non-Hague Countries .............................................................................63
 

Child Recovery When Seeking the Offender’s Extradition ........................................................63
 

Child Recovery When Seeking the Offender’s Deportation.......................................................64
 

Child Recovery Through U.S. Department of Defense Mechanisms .........................................65
 

Child Recovery Through the Alien Exclusion Act........................................................................66
 

Chapter 8. Recovery and Reunification ........................................................................67
 

Preparing the Parent .................................................................................................................68
 

When U.S. Law Enforcement Recovers the Child Abroad ........................................................70
 

Facilitating the Child’s Return to the United States ..................................................................71
 

Closing the Case........................................................................................................................72
 

Followup and Prevention Measures ..........................................................................................73
 

Chapter 9. Law Enforcement Liability Concerns .........................................................75
 

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................76
 

References .......................................................................................................................77
 

Appendix A. Contact List ...............................................................................................79
 

Appendix B. Resources and Recommended Readings ...............................................83
 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Introduction 

I

nternational parental kidnapping, whether as a result of a parent or other person taking 

or wrongfully retaining a child with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental 

rights, merits the full and timely attention of law enforcement. The child (or children) 

should be considered to be in danger, especially when the person taking or retaining 

the child has previously threatened to abduct or harm the child or themselves, or is 

otherwise unstable. In these cases, the law enforcement responsibility is much broader 

than the simple act of retrieving the child. Officers, and the agencies they represent, 

who respond promptly, professionally, and efficiently to reports regarding what many 

term “family kidnappings” become, in effect, a means of protection for the child (Findlay 

and Lowery, 2011). 

This guide is for local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities who respond 

to international parental child kidnapping cases. It suggests methods for preventing 

international child kidnappings by family members; describes the role of law enforcement 

as the initial responder and investigator; discusses applicable laws, treaties, and legal 

remedies for child recovery and reunification; and outlines considerations for criminal 

prosecution and extradition of offenders. The guide covers: 

• Risks and effects of the problem, as well as scope and remedies. 

• Law enforcement interventions for preventing kidnapping. 

• Initial law enforcement response. 

• Interdiction: How to stop a kidnapping in progress. 

• The continuing investigation in the United States and abroad. 

• Federal resources that can aid in the investigation. 

1 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

• Criminal charging options. 

• Extradition. 

• Child recovery mechanisms. 

• Reunification and recovery. 

• Law enforcement liability concerns. 

Before coordinating an investigation, it is critical to identify federal and state resources. 

Doing so prepares law enforcement to respond effectively to international parental 

kidnapping cases. 

Introduction to the Terminology 

Many names are given to the act of any person taking, retaining, or concealing 

a child and crossing international borders or trying to obstruct another parent’s 

rights, including physical custody or visitation rights. Throughout the guide, 

the term “parent” includes parents, guardians, other family members, or other 

persons with parental rights. 

The term “abduction” encompasses the taking or retaining of a child after a 

permitted visit, according to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 

International Child Abduction (also known as the Hague Abduction Convention), 

which is the primary civil mechanism for achieving the return of children. 

Congress created the federal crime of “international parental kidnapping” 

through the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, codified in Title 18, 

U.S. Code § 1204, which includes both the unlawful removal and retention of 

a child outside the United States in derogation of another’s parental rights. 

Definitions and terms may vary depending on the applicable state’s kidnapping 

statutes. Other terms used to describe this conduct may include “family 

abduction,” “custodial abduction,” or “parental child kidnapping.” This guide 

will use the term “international parental kidnapping” to refer to all such criminal 

takings or retentions. 

Similarly, the labels applied to the persons involved vary depending on the 

statute being used or the context in which they are being referenced. Common 

terms include the taking, abducting, or retaining parent or person; and the leftbehind or searching parent. 

2 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 1. Putting the 

Issue in Perspective 

What Is the Impact of Wrongfully Removing or Retaining a Child, 

Why Do Parents Wrongfully Take Their Children, and What Civil 

and Criminal Remedies Are Available To Address the Problem? 

Impact of Parental Kidnapping on Children 

International parental kidnapping can have serious emotional, psychological, and even 

physical consequences for the abducted child. When children are wrongfully taken 

abroad or kept in another country, they may be initially traumatized by differences 

in customs and language, movement from place to place, and assumption of a new 

identity. Over time, the child may be forced to adapt to a completely new culture, 

language, and school environment. Completely separated from familiar friends and 

extended family, abducted children may suffer a sense of isolation or develop an 

unhealthy bond with the taking parent. The child also may develop a skewed perspective 

on one or both parents based on the influence of the abducting parent. 

Statistical Overview 

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Children’s Issues 

maintains statistics on reported international parental child abduction cases. This 

information is available through its “Data” webpage. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select 

the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab and then the “Legal Information” tab. 

In the left menu bar, click on “Reports and Data” and select “Data.” 

3 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Wrongful Parental Kidnapping Risk Factors 

A wrongful parental kidnapping is more likely to occur if a parent has: 

•	 Previously taken or threatened to 

take the child. 

•	 No strong ties to the child’s 

current place of residence. 

•	 Strong ties to a foreign country. 

•	 A strong support network of 

family or friends elsewhere. 

•	 No regular job, especially 

when coupled with financial 

independence or the ability to 

easily earn a living anywhere. 

•	 Engaged in planning activities, 

such as quitting a job, selling 

a home, terminating a lease, 

closing bank accounts or 

liquidating other assets, hiding or 

destroying documents, applying 

for passport books or passport 

cards, or requesting copies of 

the child’s school records or 

birth certificate. 

•	 A history of marital instability, 

lack of cooperation with the 

other parent, domestic violence, 

or child abuse. 

•	 A criminal arrest record. 

Source: Girdner, L., and Johnston, J. 2000. Prevention of Family Abduction Through Early Identification 

of Risk Factors. Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 

Risk Factors for Kidnapping 

Some factors are known to increase the likelihood of a parental child kidnapping; 

however, parental child kidnapping cases can be unpredictable. Some parents are 

engaged in lengthy custody disputes lasting for months or years prior to the wrongful 

retention or removal of the child. In other cases, parents or family members are 

blindsided by the wrongful taking of their child. Other parents, and children, may be 

fleeing an abusive situation. 

Civil Remedies 

The most important civil remedy available to parents in international parental kidnapping 

cases is the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 

(Hague Abduction Convention), which provides for the prompt return of internationally 

abducted children to their country of habitual residence. Parents whose children have 

been wrongfully removed from or retained internationally in a country that is a Hague 

4 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 5 

Abduction Convention partner with the United States should immediately contact the 

U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues and consider seeking the child’s 

return with a Hague application through the office, which operates 24 hours a day. See 

appendix A for contact information. 

Be mindful of timeliness; applications made within 1 year of wrongful retention or 

removal receive more favorable terms within the Hague Abduction Convention. If the 

child has been taken to a country that is not a Hague treaty partner of the United States, 

the left-behind parent is also advised to contact the Office of Children’s Issues as soon 

as possible for assistance. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State 

website for an overview of the Hague Abduction Convention and to see a list of treaty 

partner countries. Go to www.travel.state.gov, choose the “International Parental Child 

Abduction” tab, click on the “Abductions” tab, and then choose “U.S. Hague Convention 

Treaty Partners” in the left menu bar. 

Parents may obtain custody orders in the United States under applicable statutes, which 

include the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, and may attempt to 

enforce these orders in foreign courts. However, some foreign courts, particularly those 

outside of the Hague Abduction Convention, may not have a process for recognizing and/ 

or enforcing a U.S. custody agreement. 

State prosecutors and law enforcement in numerous states have civil statutory authority 

to locate and recover children wrongfully taken by their parents. The Uniform Child 

Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, in particular, gives state prosecutors (or other 

designated public officials) civil statutory authority to take any lawful action—including 

instituting a civil proceeding—to locate a child, facilitate a child’s return, or enforce a child 

custody determination. State prosecutors have discretion to decide how to proceed in 

a particular parental kidnapping case. They may pursue civil or criminal remedies or both 

simultaneously. They act on behalf of the court and do not represent any party. 

Criminal Remedies 

Parental kidnapping is a crime in every state, and each state has circumstances under 

which it is charged as a felony. Title 18, U.S. Code § 1204—enacted as part of the 

International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act—also makes it a federal offense to remove 

or retain a child outside of the United States with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of 

parental rights. 
6 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Passports and Complications of Dual Nationality 

Awareness is the first line of defense in an international parental kidnapping. Law 

enforcement can take the following steps to prepare to respond to potential international 

kidnapping cases: 

• Become familiar with international travel, passport requirements, and passport 

revocation procedures for adults and minors. 

• Be aware of dual nationality issues (see the subsection below for more information). 

• Institute training programs for officers on pertinent state and federal laws. 

• Ensure that departmental procedures for handling these types of cases are in place. 

Refer parents with prevention-related questions about passport access to the Office of 

Children’s Issues’ “Prevention Tips” webpage. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the 

“International Parental Child Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. In the left 

menu bar, select “Prevention Tips.” 

Passports 

Local, state, and federal law enforcement may be able to coordinate with the Legal Affairs 

Division and Law Enforcement Liaison of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Passport 

Services to limit a taking parent’s movements. This office denies or revokes U.S. passports 

in accordance with federal regulations (see 22 C.F.R. §§ 51.60–51.62). Procedures for 

requesting revocation and other passport actions are available on the U.S. Department 

of State website. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “U.S. Passports” tab and then 

the “Legal Matters” tab. For additional discussion on passport revocation, see chapter 5: 

Federal and Nonfederal Resources. 

Complications of Dual Nationality 

Unique issues surround dual nationality. The concept of dual nationality means that a 

person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship 

laws based on its own policies. Persons may have dual nationality automatically because 

of countries’ differing laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign 

country to parents who are U.S. citizens may be a citizen of both the United States and 

the country of birth and may be subject to the laws of that country. For more information, 

see the Office of Children’s Issues’ “Dual Nationality” fact sheet at www.travel.state.gov/ 

content/dam/childabduction/dual_nationality.pdf. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 2. Preventing 

International Parental 

Kidnapping 

What Can Law Enforcement Do To Prevent International 

Parental Kidnapping? 

Kidnapping Prevention for Law Enforcement 

It is far easier—and preferable—to prevent an international kidnapping than to resolve 

one that has already happened. Local, state, and federal law enforcement is in the best 

position to prevent an international kidnapping: first, by taking a parent’s allegations 

seriously and second, by understanding the law and their authority to intervene. 

The risk of an international kidnapping may become known to a law enforcement officer 

when a concerned parent seeks help. The parent’s concerns may be based on specific 

threats or on suspicious conduct. For law enforcement, the case may originate from a 

domestic disturbance call. 

With timely intervention, law enforcement may prevent an international kidnapping. Early 

in the investigation, law enforcement agencies should contact the U.S. Department of 

State’s Office of Children’s Issues, which will work closely with them and parents to 

prevent a kidnapping or to stop a kidnapping in progress. For more information about 

child abduction, see the U.S. Department of State’s “Child Abduction Frequently Asked 

Questions” webpage. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International Parental 

Child Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. Select “Child Abduction Frequently 

Asked Questions” in the left menu bar. To contact the Office of Children’s Issues, visit 

www.travel.state.gov, click on the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab and then 

the “Abductions” tab. Select “Contact Us” in the right menu bar. 

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8 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

In addition to filing the appropriate charges, officers should do the following: 

• Warn the parent who is considering removing or retaining the child of the 

consequences of their conduct. Kidnapping may result in criminal charges, 

extradition, prosecution, and jail time. At the very least, a parent who threatens 

to wrongfully take a child could expect to have their visits with the child reduced 

or supervised. 

• Take threats of taking or retaining a child seriously. Provide the potential leftbehind parent with contact information for local law enforcement. Reaching law 

enforcement quickly may allow officers to apprehend the taking parent before he 

or she leaves the country. 

• Contact your local port authority law enforcement units. Keep a current list of 

airport law enforcement personnel and their contact information. Alert port 

authority personnel about specific children who are at risk of imminent kidnapping. 

Provide photos and ask law enforcement in airports, bus terminals, or train stations 

to immediately notify the assigned law enforcement officer if the child is identified 

at their location. 

Kidnapping Prevention for Parents 

Educate the potential left-behind parent about steps he or she can take to reduce the 

risk of kidnapping. Some helpful steps are listed below and throughout this guide. 

• Inform the parent that the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 

(NCMEC), www.missingkids.org, provides support for families and works in 

partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to help law enforcement prevent 

kidnapping and find missing children. Refer the concerned parent to NCMEC and to 

the Office of Children’s Issues’ “Prevention” webpage for guidance on preventing 

kidnappings and information on the laws of the countries in question. To access 

the webpage, go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International Parental Child 

Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 9 

• Inform the parent about the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, which 

is one of the U.S. Department of State’s most important tools for preventing 

international parental child kidnapping. The program allows parents to register 

their U.S. citizen children younger than age 18 in the Department’s Passport 

Lookout System, so that the enrolling parent can be contacted if a passport 

application is submitted for the enrolled child. Additional information is available 

in chapter 5: Federal and Nonfederal Resources and on the Office of Children’s 

Issues’ website. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International Parental 

Child Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. Click on “Children’s Passport 

Issuance Alert Program” in the left menu bar. 

• Tell the parent to teach the child his or her full name, parent’s name, telephone 

number, and how to place a collect call and obtain operator assistance. 

• Advise the parent to notify school authorities about the potential for kidnapping 

and to be sure that the school knows not to release the child to unauthorized 

persons. The parent should give a copy of his or her custody order to the school 

principal. 

• Suggest that the parent contact an attorney and secure a well-written court order 

with clear travel guidelines and restrictions. 

• Try to ascertain from the parent if the child has dual nationality. If so, suggest that 

the parent seek assistance from the foreign embassy to prevent issuance of a 

passport for the child unless both parents approve the request. 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 3. Initial 

Response 

What Are the Critical First Steps Law Enforcement Should Take 

When a Parental Child Kidnapping Case Is Reported, and What 

Special Steps Should Be Taken To Stop a Kidnapping In Progress? 

E

very report of a missing child poses potential serious risk to a child and requires an 

immediate and coordinated response from law enforcement. Often, this initial law 

enforcement response determines whether a child is recovered quickly and safely. 

Because international parental child kidnappings pose unique circumstances—such 

as international treaties, foreign legal systems, and limited jurisdictional authority—a 

comprehensive and effective initial response is essential to the investigation and may 

prevent a long-term international kidnapping and the compounding legal complexities 

that can occur. 

The Role of the Dispatcher 

When the local law enforcement emergency communications center receives a 

complaint concerning an abducted child, the dispatcher who takes the phone call 

should follow the agency’s policy and protocols concerning missing children and obtain 

as much information as possible. In all cases, an officer or deputy should be sent 

immediately to take a report in person from the left-behind parent (or other complainant). 

In some circumstances, such as when an international child kidnapping is in progress, an 

investigator will begin taking action while the initial responding officer is en route to the 

complainant. If the taking parent can be prevented from leaving the United States, the 

chances for recovering the child are greatly enhanced. 

11 
12 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Local law enforcement or the left-behind parent may immediately contact the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—with its investigative responsibilities for interstate flight 

and the federal international parental kidnapping crime statute—in any matter involving 

an attempted parental kidnapping from the United States. 

The First Responder 

The initial response to a missing child report is the most crucial part of the investigation. 

It is imperative that appropriate action be taken without delay. Do not assume that a 

child in the company of either parent is safe. The child could be in imminent danger if 

either the taking parent or the left-behind parent is believed to have physically or sexually 

abused the child or to have threatened to kill the child or to commit suicide. The child also 

may be in danger from the left-behind parent even though the child is not currently with 

that parent. With timely involvement, law enforcement will be able to assess the source 

of danger to the child and help secure a safe environment for the child. 

Until the child’s exact whereabouts are confirmed, law enforcement should not speculate 

as to whether the child is still in the country or safe, regardless of the suspicions of the 

reporting parent. After responding to the call and collecting pertinent information, officers 

should take the following steps to ascertain the child’s whereabouts: 

1. Inquire about the child’s last known location and the taking parent’s place of 

residence to establish jurisdiction and the appropriate authorities to determine the 

need for a joint, coordinated investigation. 

2. Interview the person who made the initial missing child report. Identify the 


circumstances of the child’s disappearance or kidnapping.
 

3. Thoroughly search the residence, yard, and vehicles at the home to ensure that the 

child is not hiding or injured somewhere on the premises. 

4. Obtain information on the taking parent’s vehicle, method of transportation, and 

contact information, including telephone and mobile numbers, e-mail address, and 

social network accounts. 

5. Obtain detailed descriptions and recent photographs of the taken child, taking 

parent, and any possible companions. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

The Missing Person Report 

Most states have codified the requirements for accepting a missing person 


report in their jurisdiction. Many require only that the reporting party live in that 


jurisdiction and that he or she request that a report be made. The originating 


agency is responsible for the complete preliminary investigation, even if it 


involves requesting assistance from an agency in another jurisdiction.
 

Source: Findlay, P., and Lowery, R., eds. 2011. Missing and Abducted Children: A Law Enforcement 


Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management. Fourth ed. Alexandria, VA: National Center for 


Missing & Exploited Children.
 

6. Inquire about the existence of a custody order. If a custody order exists, verify 

that the document is valid and that it is the most recent order issued by the court 

of jurisdiction. Consultation with prosecutors may help this process. You do not 

need a court order to enter the incident into the National Crime Information Center 

(NCIC) registry, to seek a child’s return under the Hague Abduction Convention, or 

to bring International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA) charges. 

7. Enter the missing child information into the NCIC system within 2 hours of when 

the incident is first reported to law enforcement, as required by the National Child 

Search Assistance Act of 1990. Neither a custody order nor criminal charges are 

required to make the entry. Also enter the child’s information into state and local 

crime information system centers. The FBI has concurrent jurisdiction for making 

NCIC entries in missing child cases and should do so promptly if the FBI is the leftbehind parent’s first point of contact. 

8. Ensure that supporting documents, such as warrant information for the taking 


parent, civil court orders, and photographs of the child and taking parent, are 


available in the local agency’s communications center or records division.
 

9. Relay BOLO (Be On the Look Out) information to law enforcement agencies 


statewide for broadcast on all channels. Include descriptions of the child, vehicle, 


taking parent, and companions.
 

10. Notify the appropriate investigator, detective, agent, or missing person unit 

specialists. 

11. Send a patrol unit to the taking parent’s house or phone the taking parent to 

determine what has happened to the child. 

13 
14 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

 

12. Advise the left-behind parent to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited 

Children (NCMEC) (800–THE–LOST) and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of 

Children’s Issues (888–407–4747) to report a potential kidnapping in progress or 

a completed kidnapping and seek assistance. Both agencies can be reached 24 

hours a day. 

13. Determine whether the circumstances meet the criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert. 

The National Crime Information Center Entry 

The removed or retained child’s information should be entered into the NCIC Missing 

Person File (NCIC–MPF) as “Involuntary Missing” (MKE/EMI) or “Endangered” 

(MKE/EME). Vehicle information and aliases for the taking parent (if applicable) should 

be included in the supplemental sections of the NCIC field, as these will result in a 

“hit” if run through NCIC. The taking parent’s name may be included as a Person With 

Information (PWI), which is a supplemental record in the Missing Person record. A 

Person With Information record should include intelligence related to the taking parent, 

custodian, legal guardian, or anyone who might have information regarding an abducted 

child case for which there is no warrant. Ensure that all entries are cross-referenced to 

one another. 

When there is a reasonable indication or suspicion that a child has been taken or is missing 

under circumstances suggesting foul play or a threat to life, enter the “Child Abduction” 

(CA) flag in the Missing Person field of the record. The CA flag automatically notifies 

NCMEC and the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime of the case. 

In instances where the child is taken by a noncustodial parent, enter “N” in the Missing 

Person Circumstances (MPC) field. This denotes “abducted by a noncustodial parent.” 

If a missing person record is for a child who has been removed from the United States, 

is known to be in another country, and the issue of return has not been resolved, place 

the following caveat in the Miscellaneous (MIS) field of the record: “RECORD IS FOR A 

MISSING CHILD BELIEVED TO BE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY). REFER TO NCIC MANUAL, 

MISSING PERSON FILE CHAPTER, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION BEFORE PLACING A 

LOCATE.” 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Exigent Circumstances: Stopping a Kidnapping or Attempted 

Kidnapping in Progress 

When a law enforcement agency is notified of a kidnapping in progress, it may be 

possible to stop the taking parent from leaving the country with the child or to ask the 

law enforcement authorities in the other country to intercept the taking parent and child 

at the port of entry. Prompt action is critical. This includes: 

• Prompt NCIC entries on the child (Missing Person File) and the taking parent 

(Wanted Persons File, if there is a warrant), which improves the chances for 

detection in the United States. 

• Prompt contact with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, 

which coordinates with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the national 

level, with its Bureau of Diplomatic Security abroad, and with foreign Central 

Authorities under the Hague Abduction Convention. 

• Prompt contact with the Crimes Against Children Special Agent at the local 

FBI field office to determine how the FBI can assist. The FBI can coordinate 

with its Legal Attachés abroad and FBI agents who are stationed at airports. 

A list of local field offices can be found on the FBI’s “Field Offices” webpage at 

www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices. 

Missing Person Circumstances 

The Missing Person Circumstances (MPC) field is optional and provides 

additional information about the nature of the disappearance. MPC field 

categories include: 

• Abducted by Noncustodial 

Parent (N) 

• Abducted by Stranger (S) 

• Adult Federally Required Entry (F) 

• Runaway (R) 

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. 2012. Effective Use of the National Crime 

Information Center Database With Missing-Child Incidents: A Reference Guide for Public-Safety 

Telecommunications Personnel. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice 

Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 

15 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Using the NCIC 2000 Database 

To assist law enforcement personnel in identifying the missing child’s 

movements or location, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) changed 

its record retention policy in 2000. The policy states that in international parental 

kidnapping cases, a record for a child who has been located in a foreign country 

should not be removed from NCIC until the child is returned or until the issue of 

return has been resolved. 

In addition, a nationwide Notify Originating Agency flag can be placed in a 

child’s missing entry and the taking parent’s wanted entry in the NCIC 2000 

system. It is a one-character alphabetic field activated by entering Y (yes) or 

N (no). This flag sends immediate notification to the entering law enforcement 

agency whenever the taking parent’s or child’s name is queried in NCIC. It may 

also be possible to flag this information in the state crime information system 

and receive notification if the taking parent or child is queried statewide. 

Like the Notify Originating Agency flag, the Delayed Inquiry Hit Notification may 

also provide investigative leads. This is an automatic feature of the NCIC 2000 

format. The originating agency does not have to activate it and is automatically 

notified of any inquiries made about the subject of their NCIC records in the 

5 days before the records are entered. 

For more information on the National Crime Information Center Database, visit 

Effective Use of the National Crime Information Center Database With MissingChild Incidents: A Reference Guide for Public-Safety Telecommunications 

Personnel, available at www.missingkids.org/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/ 

documents/ncicguide.pdf. 

• Prompt contact with the U.S. National Central Bureau–International Criminal 

Police Organization (USNCB–INTERPOL), which communicates with its foreign 

counterparts in countries around the world. 

• Prompt contact with the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of 

Justice, to determine whether an urgent provisional arrest with a view toward 

extradition can be sought, or if other means are available under the domestic 

law of the other country, to return the taking parent to the United States to face 

criminal charges. 

Successful interception usually depends on a criminal warrant or investigation in 

connection with the taking parent. However, this is not the only way to thwart a taking 

parent’s plans. In the United States, civil court orders may provide authority for law 

enforcement to pick up an abducted child. Civil statutes, such as the Uniform Child 

16 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 17 

Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, may provide authority for law enforcement to 

locate and recover abducted children in Hague and non-Hague cases. Additionally, foreign 

governments may respond to an urgent Hague application transmitted by the U.S. 

Department of State, or they may take other measures to protect the child. In addition 

to arresting a taking parent on criminal charges, foreign governments may also stop an 

undocumented alien from entering the country. 

Intercepting the Child and Taking Parent in the United States 

In addition to the strategies listed above, U.S. law enforcement should promptly take the 

following steps to prevent a taking parent from leaving the United States with the child: 

1. Contact local police serving airports, bus stations, and train stations in the area as 

well as in nearby cities. If you suspect international travel, insert an NCIC entry 

and coordinate with CBP or contact CBP’s Office of Children’s Issues’ liaison. If the 

child may be in immediate danger, contact the U.S. Department of State’s Office of 

Children’s Issues’ liaison at CBP to request that they post a bulletin. For additional 

information, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ webpage, “Steps to Stopping 

an Abduction in Progress.” Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International 

Parental Child Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. Click on “Steps to 

Stopping an Abduction in Progress” in the left menu bar. The security division 

of major airlines may provide U.S. law enforcement with passenger registry 

information. If you discover that the child and taking parent are airborne, contact 

authorities in the destination country immediately for assistance in intercepting 

them at the airport when their flight lands, as described below. 

2. If appropriate, ask the media to disseminate the child’s photograph and description. 

3. If local law enforcement is the left-behind parent’s first contact, ask the FBI Field 

Office to coordinate the federal interdiction effort. They can also contact the U.S. 

Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, which works closely with law 

enforcement and CBP, when the missing child is still in the United States and at 

risk of imminent kidnapping. 

Once contacted, the FBI works with the prosecutors and local law enforcement and 

will coordinate with other appropriate agencies—including, depending on the facts of 

the case, the U.S. Department of State, INTERPOL, the U.S. Department of Justice’s 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

The Role of U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may assist in stopping an international 

kidnapping in progress. If the taking parent and child are identified, CBP may 

detain the individuals at the port of departure and contact the relevant state or 

federal agency to take the appropriate action. 

Law enforcement officers (not parents) can create National Crime Information 

Center entries or otherwise coordinate with CBP via the U.S. Department of 

State’s Office of Children’s Issues. 

Office of International Affairs, CBP, and local law enforcement authorities such as 

port authority police—to investigate and, if possible, stop the international kidnapping 

in progress. The FBI agent may treat the kidnapping in progress as an Unlawful Flight 

To Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) matter or an IPKCA investigation and open a preliminary 

or full investigation. The FBI will use all available resources to track and arrest any 

criminal fugitive attempting international flight. 

4. After contacting federal authorities, law enforcement can also contact NCMEC 

(800–THE–LOST) for prevention assistance, including support for kidnappings in 

progress. NCMEC has case managers that specialize in family kidnappings who 

can help coordinate services both during and after office hours. 

Authority for Detaining the Taking Parent and Recovering the Child 

Before They Leave the United States 

State and local law enforcement. Law enforcement officers should be familiar with 

state laws on child custody, custodial interference, and the taking of a juvenile into 

custody. A clear custody order, including a temporary order, may provide sufficient 

grounds for law enforcement to take physical custody of a child. State law may also 

allow officers to intercept a child taken in predicted kidnapping situations (that is, before 

custody orders have been made). It is important to obtain and review current, valid court 

orders when investigating parental child kidnapping. Law enforcement should contact 

their prosecution counterparts to help clarify these issues if necessary. 

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. This Act and similar 

statutes in some states give state prosecutors and law enforcement discretionary 

18 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 19 

authority to obtain pickup orders (e.g., a warrant for taking physical custody of a 

child, a warrant in lieu of a writ of habeas corpus) on an expedited basis in exigent 

circumstances (when risk of imminent flight or danger to the child exists), enabling them 

to take a child into physical custody. The child is then brought before the court for further 

disposition or delivered to a person designated by the court (usually the left-behind 

parent). Private attorneys may also seek pickup orders. (See chapter 7: Mechanisms for 

Child Recovery.) 

In some circumstances, law enforcement may detain a suspected taking parent 

for questioning in connection with a criminal parental kidnapping investigation. The 

taking parent also may be arrested if probable cause or a criminal warrant for parental 

kidnapping exists. Law enforcement is encouraged to discuss these decisions with local 

or federal prosecutors. 

The Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act. The Uniform Child Abduction Prevention 

Act (UCAPA) allows the court to impose kidnapping prevention measures at any 

time. See section 9: Law enforcement authority to enforce UCAPA pickup orders at 

www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/child_abduction_prevention/ucapa_final_oct06.pdf. 

Federal law enforcement. If a child is identified at a U.S. land border, seaport, or airport 

as a result of an NCIC inquiry, CBP may temporarily detain the potential taking parent 

and child, even if there is no criminal warrant for the taking parent. In these cases, CBP 

may contact the local, state, or federal agency to determine the appropriate next steps. 

(See chapter 6: Criminal Prosecution and Extradition.) 

After further investigation and after discussion with state or federal prosecutors, if the 

facts do not support filing IPKCA or other criminal charges under state or federal law 

against the suspected taking parent, and if no other basis exists on which to detain 

the potential taking parent for criminal investigative purposes (such as indications the 

child is in danger), the suspected taking parent would be free to go. However, it may 

be possible to prevent the child’s departure with the suspected taking parent. Federal 

law enforcement should communicate with relevant local or state law enforcement 

authorities, who may have authority under civil statutes (described above) or may be 

directed by civil court order to take the child into physical custody. The left-behind parent 

should be notified of these circumstances so that possible civil remedies may be swiftly 

pursued to recover the child. 

If allegations of parental abuse are raised, law enforcement should contact state social 

service agencies to assist with the investigation of allegations of abuse. 
20 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Intercepting the Child and Taking Parent Abroad 

Taking parents who succeed in leaving the United States may be stopped as they enter, 

leave, or travel through another country, provided that foreign authorities are promptly 

notified and their cooperation is sought. Local law enforcement officials may begin this 

process by immediately contacting the FBI Field Office; the U.S. Department of State’s 

Office of Children’s Issues, which will coordinate with CBP; and/or USNCB–INTERPOL, 

which in turn will call on and coordinate with foreign authorities to exercise any power 

they may have under their own domestic law to intercept the taking parent and protect 

the child. If the FBI field agent is the point of first contact for the left-behind parent, the 

agent will coordinate the federal response. Time is critical. 

Interception abroad may be possible through one or more of the following: (1) the urgent 

filing of a Hague application; (2) foreign law enforcement cooperation to use its domestic 

law, generated by CBP or USNCB–INTERPOL or other law enforcement communication; 

(3) the expedited revocation of the taking parent’s passport or other travel documents; 

or (4) making an urgent provisional arrest request for the taking parent with a view to 

extradition, based on an applicable treaty and a U.S. criminal arrest warrant and charging 

document or complaint. 

Extradition and Provisional Arrest Requests 

State and federal prosecutors must contact DOJ’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), 

regarding international extradition and provisional arrest requests. For specific contact 

information, see chapter 5: Federal and Nonfederal Resources. 

Most extradition requests require either a state or federal felony violation with a 

maximum penalty exceeding 1 year of imprisonment, and a commitment to prosecute 

the taking parent even if the child can be returned. See chapter 6: Criminal Prosecution 

and Extradition for a more thorough discussion of extradition. 

Prosecutors may seek an urgent “provisional arrest with a view toward extradition” to 

intercept a kidnapping in progress. If the requested foreign government provisionally 

arrests the defendant, the United States must submit (by its prosecutor, working with 

OIA) the full extradition request to the foreign government (including sufficient evidence) 

via the U.S. Department of State before the deadline provided by the applicable 

extradition treaty. Law enforcement, working with the relevant criminal prosecutor, 

should reach out to OIA as soon as possible for more information on this process and 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 21 

the prospect of extradition in a particular country. When no extradition treaty is in place 

with the other country, the United States may ask the other country to use its domestic 

powers to intercept the offender. 

Passport Revocation 

Local, state, and federal law enforcement can request revocation of a U.S. passport 

through the Legal Affairs Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Passport 

Services. They may also coordinate the request first with the FBI Field Office, which 

will liaise with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security office. Passports are 

revoked for the reasons set forth in 22 C.F.R. §§ 51.60–51.62. Contact information and 

procedures for requesting passport revocation and other passport actions are discussed 

in chapter 5: Federal and Nonfederal Resources and are available on the Bureau of 

Consular Affairs “Passport Information for Law Enforcement” webpage. Go to www. 

travel.state.gov, select the “U.S. Passports” tab and then the “Legal Matters” tab. Click 

on “Passport Information for Law Enforcement” in the left menu bar. 

If the parent has dual nationality, revoking a U.S. passport will not affect his or her ability 

to obtain or retain travel documents from the other country of nationality. Local law 

enforcement can request reciprocity from a foreign embassy or consulate, but there is 

no obligation under international law for the country to cooperate (by limiting a parent’s 

ability to obtain or retain travel documents from that country). A foreign country’s 

domestic law also may limit that country’s ability to cooperate with the United States. 

Law enforcement handling the case should advise the left-behind parent to contact the 

Office of Children’s Issues immediately for assistance in starting the Hague process. 

Some state prosecutors have the authority to initiate a Hague return application (e.g., 

under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act). 

Urgent INTERPOL Communications 

Local, state, or federal law enforcement should communicate with USNCB–INTERPOL 

without delay to request that diffusions be sent on an urgent basis to one or more foreign 

national central bureaus (NCBs) about the kidnapping in progress.1 Police authorities of each 

recipient country should be asked to place the abducted child in protective custody. 

In addition to using INTERPOL’s dedicated telecommunications system, NCBs may 

communicate by telephone or fax. 

1 The U.S. National Central Bureau can transmit immediate, text-only messages—called diffusions—at any time to one or more 

foreign NCBs. 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Urgent Hague Application or Other Urgent Civil Step 

As discussed in chapter 5, steps under the Hague Abduction Convention or other civil 

means for securing the safety and recovery of the child must be considered in parallel to 

efforts to arrest or return a taking parent. 

Response From the Destination Country 

The discretion to intercept a taking parent or an abducted child at a foreign port of 

entry rests with the foreign law enforcement and immigration authorities. The foreign 

government may exercise authority under its domestic law to prevent entry of a taking 

parent, to expel or deport a taking parent, or to address the welfare of the child. Some 

foreign authorities will use their domestic police powers to intervene if they find a factual 

basis for believing the child is endangered, regardless of whether the taking parent is 

wanted. Foreign authorities also may execute a request from the United States for the 

urgent provisional arrest of a taking parent for extradition purposes. If a taking parent is 

arrested, foreign authorities may safeguard the child while the custodial parent arranges 

for the child’s return. 

Taking Custody of a Missing Child 

Some states have granted law enforcement specific authority to pick up missing 

children. Every state allows law enforcement at least some authority to take 

custody of a child in an emergency, when there are concerns about abuse or 

neglect, or when the child has been abandoned. Early contact with state social 

service agencies will help this process. 

However, an entry in the National Crime Information Center’s missing persons 

category does not ensure that the child will be taken into custody if located. 

Few jurisdictions will hold a child indefinitely. They often want assurance that a 

parent or law enforcement representative will respond promptly to take custody 

of the child. 

If the child is located in the United States, a custody order (including temporary 

orders) clearly specifying which parent has custody, a “pickup order,” or both, 

may be required for law enforcement to take physical custody of the child. 

Securing custody orders or pickup orders in anticipation of the child being 

located can provide such assurance and expedite the child’s recovery. Law 

enforcement should have a plan in place for the child’s care when they recover 

the child; it may include placing the child with social service agencies if the 

caregiver is arrested with the child. 

22 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 4.The 

Continuing Investigation 

Which Law Enforcement Agencies Investigate International 

Parental Child Kidnapping Cases, and How Is the Investigation 

Conducted in the United States and Abroad? 

I

nternational parental child kidnapping cases involve investigative work in the United 

States and abroad. Communication among all local, state, and federal investigative 

agencies involved in the same case is imperative to avoid redundancy and use 

resources efficiently. 

Understanding Local, State, and Federal Investigative Roles 

This section provides detailed information on the roles of local, state, and federal 

investigators. 

When Local Law Enforcement Is the First Responder 

In addition to using local and state resources to search for the child and conduct the 


criminal investigation, the international aspect of the case requires coordinating with 


other local, state, and federal agencies. For example, when a kidnapping is underway, 


local law enforcement should immediately contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation 


(FBI), the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, the U.S. National 


Central Bureau–International Criminal Police Organization (USNCB–INTERPOL), or all 


three for assistance in rapidly garnering international law enforcement cooperation to 


intercept a taking parent.
 

When and How the FBI Gets Involved 

The ability to investigate the case at the local level may be hindered by the taking 

parent’s flight from the state or country. When this happens, federal law enforcement, in 

23 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

coordination with a federal prosecutor, may seek an Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution 

(UFAP) arrest warrant under the federal Fugitive Felon Act (18 U.S.C. § 1073), which will 

bring the FBI into the case—with its nationwide resources and international criminal 

law enforcement contacts. (For more information on procedures for obtaining a UFAP 

warrant, see chapter 6: Criminal Prosecution and Extradition.) The FBI is the sole federal 

agency with investigative jurisdiction for international parental kidnappings. 

In addition to treating a kidnapping as a Fugitive Felon Act matter, the FBI agent may 

treat a kidnapping or attempted kidnapping as a felony under the International Parental 

Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA) and open a preliminary or full investigation. IPKCA 

investigations may be initiated by parents (whose first contact may be their FBI Field 

Office) or by state prosecutors or other law enforcement (who may be hampered by 

state law or other considerations from pursuing the case solely as a state law matter). 

Federal prosecutors, in consultation with the FBI, will make decisions about initiating the 

criminal process in international parental kidnappings on a case-by-case basis. 

If a taking parent is charged under IPKCA, the FBI is the lead investigator. In addition to 

using all appropriate federal resources to conduct the investigation, the FBI may call on 

local authorities to help collect information. 

As stated earlier, if the FBI is the first point of contact for the left-behind parent, the FBI 

should enter the child into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person 

File without delay and without regard to which law enforcement agency—state or 

federal—will lead the investigation. 

How To Obtain an Unlawful Flight To Avoid 

Prosecution Warrant 

Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution arrest warrants are obtained from a 

federal magistrate judge by federal law enforcement and prosecutors following 

the filing of a federal criminal complaint for a violation of the Fugitive Felon Act 

(18 U.S.C. § 1073). 

24 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 25 

Extending the Search Internationally 

Once taking parents are on foreign soil, U.S. law enforcement must enlist the 

cooperation of law enforcement authorities in the foreign country to carry on the 

investigation. This can be arranged by FBI Legal Attachés (often referred to as “Legats”) 

and by Regional Security Officers of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic 

Security (DS Special Agents) assigned to U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. 

USNCB–INTERPOL can also serve as a liaison to law enforcement in all INTERPOL 

member countries. (For a more complete description of the Diplomatic Security Service, 

Legats, and INTERPOL, including contact information, see chapter 1: Putting the Issue in 

Perspective.) 

U.S. law enforcement can contact the Office of Children’s Issues, whose staff can call 

on foreign governments to assist in locating the child, report on the child’s condition, and 

assist in the child’s safe return. The Office of Children’s Issues can provide investigators 

with information on the laws and customs of foreign countries. Investigators should 

understand that the other country’s policies and customs—as they relate to religion, 

gender, nationality, and other factors—can negatively impact U.S. investigative efforts. 

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of International Affairs (OIA) can provide 

country-specific information on extradition and another country’s possible application of 

its domestic laws to intercept or deport an abductor and/or child. 

The United States also maintains treaty or nontreaty relationships with most countries, 

whereby prosecutors and law enforcement may formally request assistance for a 

criminal investigation or prosecution. Contact the Criminal Division of OIA for more 

information. 

Conducting the Investigation 

The investigator must gather as much information as possible about the child and the 

taking parent, the searching parent, and the circumstances of the case. The investigator 

will need to interview the left-behind parent extensively and gather copies of important 

documents and any custody orders that may exist. He or she should take statements 

from witnesses, neighbors, friends, school officials, and family members. Review the 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC’s) Investigative Checklist 

for First Responders at www.missingkids.org/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/desktop/ 

publications/nc88.pdf. 
26 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Confirm National Crime Information Center Entries 

One of the investigator’s first tasks is to confirm that all NCIC entries have been made 

correctly and are cross-referenced to one another. This includes the missing person 

record for the child as well as any wanted records and stolen vehicle records for the 

taking parent. Investigators should double check names and dates of birth for accuracy. 

An incorrectly spelled name or a wrong date of birth may result in the system failing to 

make a “hit” when a query is conducted. 

Determine Allegations of Abuse 

Determine if there are any allegations of abuse against the taking parent or the leftbehind parent. In many cases, a taking parent will claim that he or she fled the country to 

escape an abusive relationship with the left-behind parent. Under IPKCA and many state 

kidnapping statutes, it is an affirmative defense to the crime of parental kidnapping if the 

offender was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence (see 18 U.S.C. § 1204 (c) 

(2)). Therefore, it is imperative that law enforcement fully investigate any such allegations 

or possibility of domestic violence in the home. As a first step, investigators should 

check whether any such reports have been filed locally or with state child protective 

services. 

Conduct Interviews 

Interview siblings, relatives, employers, neighbors, schools, bank officials, friends of the 

suspect and child, and others. Contact anyone who might provide information about 

possible destinations, routes, departure times, and even insight into the resources 

available to the taking parent. These individuals may also have key information regarding 

whether any allegations of domestic abuse by the taking parent are valid. Consider 

notifying authorities in potential destinations and stopovers to look out for the child and 

taking parent. The FBI and INTERPOL can coordinate with foreign authorities to ensure 

they watch for the taking parent. 

Review the Court File 

Review the original court file and acquire a copy of any existing court order for the 

case file. The civil court file can hold a wealth of information, including identifying data 

on all parties, notices and dates of service, history of drug or alcohol abuse, history of 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 27 

child abuse, prior contempt actions, passport information, financial and employment 

records, records from other states, mental health history, domestic violence history, 

correspondence, list of prior residences and other contacts, and a history of interference 

with custody or visitation. A suspect, or his or her attorney, may decline to participate 

in an interview, yet will often fill the court file with motions, affidavits from friends and 

family, and statements from the suspect. The history and dates compiled from these 

files can provide a timeline and can help investigators prepare for interviews with key 

individuals in the case. Access to court files can be arranged through the prosecutor’s 

office, the sheriff’s civil division, or the court itself. It is also beneficial for the agency or 

investigator to have a standing court order on file that allows access to sealed files. 

If a court order exists that establishes or outlines custodial or parental rights, the 

investigator should acquire a copy for the case file. If the investigator receives the 

custody order from the parent, he or she should contact the issuing court to verify 

that it is valid and is the most recent order issued. 

Although some states require the left-behind parent to have custody or to obtain 

temporary custody to file state criminal charges, IPKCA and the Hague Abduction 

Convention do not require a custody order for criminal charges to be filed or to 

seek the return of a child. 

Review Passport Records 

Seek information from passport records that may aid the investigation. Flagging U.S. 

passport applications may produce leads as to the taking parent’s whereabouts. 

Searching passport records for information such as passport numbers and dates of 

issuance also can aid the investigation. You must have an open law enforcement 

investigation to request copies of passport records (which contain the applicant’s 

personal information, but not travel records). Contact the Law Enforcement Liaison 

Division in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Passport Services for assistance in 

obtaining these records. To request these records, follow the procedures discussed in 

chapter 1: Putting the Issue in Perspective and listed on the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ 

“Passport Information for Law Enforcement” webpage. Go to www.travel.state.gov, 

select the “U.S. Passports” tab and then the “Legal Matters” tab. Click on “Passport 

Information for Law Enforcement” in the left menu bar. 
28 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Determine Whether a Warrant Exists 

Consult with the local state or district attorney to determine whether the taking parent has 

been charged with a state crime. If an arrest warrant is issued, it should be entered into 

NCIC immediately. The existence of a warrant ensures that the taking parent will be detained 

if located in the United States and helps facilitate cooperation from other law enforcement 

agencies. If prosecution is requested, the following documents will be needed: 

• Copies of all sworn statements. 

• A copy of the missing person report. 

• A copy of the most recent custody or court order (if any). 

• Any documentation or evidence that the child is being hidden by the taking 


parent or has been taken out of the state or country by the taking parent.
 

Obtain Biometric Information 

Obtain biometric information early in the investigation. State and federal guidelines 

require entering dental and medical records into NCIC within 30 days. This step is often 

overlooked until the later stages of a prolonged investigation or when a tragic outcome is 

anticipated. Where appropriate, investigators should collect DNA for all missing children 

and from the biological parents in a timely manner. 

Involve the Media as Appropriate 

The media—television, radio, and newspapers—can publicize information about a 

taking parent and victim child locally and nationally, when appropriate. It is important to 

establish a positive relationship with the media before you need their help with a child 

kidnapping situation. 

NCMEC’s Missing Children Division can assist parents and law enforcement officers in 

creating a missing child poster, which can be disseminated in various ways (newspapers, 

mailers, television, and digital media), including being featured on NCMEC’s website. 

Once information about the child is in NCIC, law enforcement can work with the parent 

and local nonprofit organizations, state missing children’s clearinghouses, and NCMEC 

to prepare and disseminate fliers and posters with the child’s photo and description. 

If the child is suspected of being in a particular country or region outside the United 

States, law enforcement can check with NCMEC, the Office of Children’s Issues, or their 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 29 

 

clearinghouse for distribution options that may be available in a foreign country (e.g., 

using social media). NCMEC may also provide other technical assistance with cases. 

Investigative Resources 

As long as the location of the child and the taking parent remains unknown, the investigator 

must draw from a variety of resources to generate new leads regarding their whereabouts. 

To obtain certain legal processes, such as grand jury subpoenas or search warrants that 

may be needed during the investigation, consult with a prosecutor early on. 

The following sources may help establish proof that the child has left the country and 

ultimately assist in finding the taking parent and child: 

School records. Ask officials at the abducted child’s school to “flag” the child’s records 

so that any change in or request for the child’s file is noticed immediately.2

 In particular, 

ask the school to contact the left-behind parent or law enforcement agency if a transfer 

of school records is requested. 

Medical and dental records. Contact family physicians, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, 

and any specialists who may have provided health care or medicine to the child or taking 

parent.3 Ask them to contact the left-behind parent or law enforcement agency if any 

records for the child or taking parent are requested or prescriptions are refilled. 

NCIC/state crime information centers. Ensure that NCIC entries for the child (missing 

person file) and the taking parent (wanted file, stolen vehicle file, or others) have been 

made and cross-referenced and that applicable flags have been activated. 

Friends, relatives, and coworkers. Have the left-behind parent make a list of the taking 

parent’s relatives (including children), close friends, and coworkers with whom the taking 

parent may possibly confide. The list should include addresses and phone numbers for all 

individuals. 

Other records. Other significant records that may be requested or flagged include court 

records, professional licenses, insurance policies, passports, visas, military records, 

2

 In many states, the law requires that school and birth records be flagged for missing children. For more information, visit 

www.missingkids.org/ourwork/publications/safety/school-records-and-birth-certificates. 

3

 Although personal health information is generally private and protected, federal law allows some disclosure for law enforcement 

purposes in a variety of situations, including to locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person (45 C.F.R. § 164.512(f)). 

For more information about health information privacy, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Health Information 

Privacy” webpage at www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html. 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Investigative Procedures Checklist 

o Missing child entry in National 

Crime Information Center (NCIC) 

Date: 

NCIC number: 

o Warrant for taking parent in NCIC 

Date: 

NCIC number: 

o AMBER Alert issued 

Date: 

o Vehicle entry 

Date: 

o Passport number 

(Office of Children’s Issues) 

Taking parent: 

Child: 

Date: 

o Request to deny issuance of 

child’s passport 

(Office of Children’s Issues) 

Date: 

o Port police contacted 

Date: 

Officer: 

o Bus and train stations contacted 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Airlines contacted for passenger 

information 

Date: 

o Left-behind parent interviewed 

Date: 

o Allegations of domestic abuse 

fully investigated 

Date: 

o Custody order 

Date: 

o Copy of court order acquired 

Date: 

Number: 

o Court file reviewed for leads 

Date: 

o Dental records obtained 

Date: 

Dentist: 

o Fliers about child prepared 

Date: 

o Birth certificate flagged 

Date: 

County/state: 

o School records flagged 

Date: 

School: 

o Medical records flagged 

Date: 

Doctor: 

o Hague application filed by parent 

(Office of Children’s Issues) 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Local prosecutor 

Date: 

Case number: 

o Federal prosecutor 

Date: 

Case number: 

o State missing children 

clearinghouse 

Date: 

Contact: 

o National Center for Missing & 

Exploited Children 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Office of Children’s Issues 

Date: 

Contact: 

30 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 31 

immigration files, union participation, voter registration, employer references, and airline 

and travel records for the child and taking parent. 

Credit checks. Have the major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—run 

credit checks on the taking parent to determine whether there are any recent purchases 

or lines of credit that would disclose location information. 

Credit cards. Contact the taking parent’s credit card companies to trace recent 

purchases. Although some credit card companies may require a grand jury subpoena to 

disclose this information, other companies may be willing to act as a confidential source 

in child abduction cases and release limited information pertaining to travel expenditures, 

such as airline tickets, hotel stays, and gas purchases. 

Employment. Determine the taking parent’s employment status. If the taking parent has 

recently terminated employment, it may be possible to find out where the final paycheck 

is to be sent. 

Military service. If the taking parent is a member of the armed services on active duty, 

a civilian employee, or a retired employee, the U.S. Department of Defense can provide 

an address and trace pension payments or direct deposit information. 

Financial institutions. Check the taking parent’s bank accounts to see if an account has 

been closed or if funds have been transferred to another bank or financial institution. You 

may need a grand jury subpoena to obtain detailed information. 

Loans. If the taking parent has an outstanding loan, ask the lender to save payment 

envelopes or other documents so postmarks can be checked. If payments are made by 

check, contact the bank for account information. 

U.S. Postal Service. Check with the post office to find out if the taking parent has a 

forwarding address on file. Mail covers can be placed on friends and relatives of the 

taking parent to record all the return addresses on mail they receive. Mail covers can be 

requested through the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 

Departments of highway safety and motor vehicles. Check on recent vehicle 

registrations, title transfers, new licenses, and renewals. 

Professional licenses and unions. If the taking parent practices a profession or trade 

that requires a state license or union membership, contact the licensing board or union 

to determine if the taking parent’s license, union card, or other information has been 

transferred to or reissued in another location. 
32 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Telephone records. The taking parent’s telephone and mobile phone records may be 

subpoenaed. The record of incoming and outgoing calls can be used to determine the 

areas of the city, state, or country, or another country, he or she communicated with 

prior to departing. Tracing calls through the local telephone company’s security office can 

be coordinated by placing a mechanical device called a “trap” on the telephones of the 

taking parent’s relatives and friends, if they agree to it. 

Federal Parent Locator Service. Several databases can trace the use of the taking 

parent’s and child’s Social Security numbers. Request information from the Federal 

Parent Locator Service, which uses Social Security numbers to search many federal 

databases for address information for the taking parent and child. 

The Internet. Many public record databases can be accessed easily and searched 

online. The Internet also offers various international directories and people finders that 

will search for phone numbers and addresses. A thorough investigation of social media 

websites, both for the victim and the taking parent, should also be conducted as soon 

as possible for location-specific information. In most cases, a search warrant will be 

required to obtain this information. 

Offline searches. Consider requesting an offline search for activity involving the taking 

parent. This can be conducted against the NCIC database of active records or against 

historical data, such as records of inquiries or entries. This search can be helpful when 

there has been some delay in issuing a warrant for the taking parent. If any NCIC queries 

on the taking parent are identified, authorities can contact the agencies making them 

prior to the warrant’s entry in the system. An offline search may be requested through 

NCIC and state crime information centers. 

Working With the Left-Behind Parent 

This section discusses law enforcement’s role in working with the left-behind parent. 

Clarify Roles 

At the outset of the investigation, law enforcement should clarify the roles of left-behind 

parents in responding to the kidnapping. Make sure the parent understands that in criminal 

parental child kidnapping cases, law enforcement’s first priority is to protect the child from 

harm. Law enforcement should also notify parents that the arrest, extradition, prosecution, 

and incarceration process that may be directed at the taking parent will not necessarily result 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 33 

in the child’s recovery. Left-behind parents should continue to explore civil remedies for the 

return of the child with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State and a private attorney. 

Apart from investigating the criminal case, law enforcement may also be authorized 

under state law to take part in the civil aspects of custody enforcement and child 

recovery. In some cases, law enforcement will travel abroad to recover the child. If the 

responding law enforcement agency is unable to take part in the recovery, explain the 

constraints (such as lack of statutory authority) and advise the left-behind parent to 

actively pursue civil remedies on his or her own. 

Obtain Information From the Parent To Advance the Investigation 

In some cases, the left-behind parent can provide important information about the 

history, habits, and assets of the taking parent, as well as insight into the customs, 

culture, and language of the taking parent’s destination country. The left-behind parent 

may still be in contact with the taking parent by telephone, e-mail, or other means. After 

consulting with the prosecutor, law enforcement may be permitted to record telephone 

conversations between the taking parent and the left-behind parent or to participate in an 

undercover capacity in online communications with the taking parent. There may even be 

family members or friends in the destination country who can provide information to the 

left-behind parent about the taking parent’s activities and whereabouts. 

Ask the left-behind parent to maintain close contact with law enforcement and to provide 

phone numbers and addresses where the parent can be reached when away from home. 

Ensure the Parent Can Travel on Short Notice 

Advise the left-behind parent that he or she may be required to travel to another location 

on very short notice to recover the child once the child has been located. Information 

on applying for a U.S. passport is available at the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ “U.S. 

Passports” webpage at www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html. 

Parents who are financially unable to recover their children from another country or 

attend a foreign court proceeding should contact NCMEC, which administers funds from 

DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime to provide travel assistance for qualified individuals. 

Law enforcement can also work with the Office of Children’s Issues or refer the parent 

to them whenever foreign travel may be involved for a left-behind parent or if the 

abducted child is returning accompanied or unaccompanied. For further discussion on 

the Office of Children’s Issues, see chapter 1: Putting the Issue in Perspective. 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Keep the Parent Informed of Progress on the Case (Where Appropriate) 

Although the investigator’s time may be limited, it is important to follow up regularly with 

the parent, provide updates on the investigation, and confirm or clarify facts discovered 

during the search. Law enforcement should use discretion where there is a history 

or allegation of abuse by the left-behind parent and ensure that the safety of the child 

remains paramount. 

Refer the Parent to Helping Agencies 

Enlist the assistance of your police department’s victim-witness advocate to provide 

support to the parent. Refer the left-behind parent to groups that can provide support 

and assistance, including local missing child nonprofit groups, the state missing children 

clearinghouse, NCMEC, and Team HOPE (www.missingkids.org/ourwork/TeamHOPE). 

Team HOPE is a national support network that matches left-behind parents with trained 

parent volunteer mentors who have experienced a kidnapping in their own families, 

usually to the same country. 

Resources for Left-Behind Families 

The following publications from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention (OJJDP) can assist families throughout the reunification and 

recovery process. OJJDP publications can be viewed and downloaded from 

the OJJDP website, ojjdp.gov (select “Publications”). The NCJ numbers in 

parentheses can also be used to search for or order the publications from the 

National Criminal Justice Reference Service at www.ncjrs.gov. 

•	 The Crime of Family Abduction: A Child’s and Parent’s Perspective
 

(NCJ 229933)
 

•	 When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide
 

(NCJ 228735)
 

•	 What About Me? Coping With the Abduction of a Brother or Sister
 

(NCJ 217714)
 

•	 You’re Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment
 

(NCJ 221965)
 

•	 A Family Resource Guide on International Parental Kidnapping
 

(NCJ 215476)
 

•	 Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse
 

(NCJ 243907)
 

34 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 5. Federal and 

Nonfederal Resources 

What Help Is Available to Law Enforcement, and How Can 

It Be Accessed? 

I

nvestigators with little or no experience in international matters can draw on the 

resources of numerous agencies—federal and nonfederal—in an international parental 

child kidnapping case. The individuals who staff these agencies have extensive 

experience with international cases and can facilitate communication with foreign officials. 

This chapter highlights agencies and organizations that provide services, support, and 

assistance to left-behind parents and their children. Contact information is provided in 

appendix A. 

U.S. Department of State 

The U.S. Department of State offers many resources to assist in international parental 

kidnapping investigations, as discussed in the following sections. Although this guide 

uses the phrase “international parental kidnapping” in accordance with the International 

Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, codified in Title 18, U.S. Code § 1204, “child abduction” 

is used in this section when referring to procedures surrounding the 1980 Hague 

Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the sidebar 

“Introduction to the Terminology” on page 2 for additional information. 

Office of Children’s Issues 

As part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Office of 

Children’s Issues develops and implements policies and practices to promote the 

welfare and safety of children involved in international parental child abduction. It works 

regularly with law enforcement to provide technical assistance on what information law 

enforcement needs to gather quickly. Law enforcement is encouraged to reach out to 

35 
36 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

the Office by phone (888–407–4747) or via e-mail at CA-CI-DOJ-liaison@state.gov first if 

the child has departed the United States. If the child is still in the United States, contact 

preventabduction1@state.gov for technical assistance as soon as a potential international 

child abduction is suspected. More information on stopping an abduction in progress 

can also be found at the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ “Steps to Stopping an Abduction in 

Progress” webpage. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International Parental Child 

Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. Click on “Steps to Stopping an Abduction 

in Progress” in the left menu bar. 

As the U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 

International Child Abduction, the Office of Children’s Issues works to strengthen treaty 

compliance in the United States and abroad. It is the primary federal contact for child 

return in cases of parental child abduction to or from the United States and another 

partner country. 

The Hague Abduction Convention is the primary civil law mechanism for parents seeking the 

return of children from treaty partner countries. Countries that are party to the Convention have 

agreed that a child who was a habitual resident in one Convention country, and who has been 

removed to or retained in another Convention country in violation of the left-behind parent’s 

custodial rights, shall be returned promptly. However, officials and parents should be aware that 

submitting a request for return promptly does not guarantee the court will order the return of 

the child. 

Once the child has been returned to his or her habitual residence, the custody dispute can 

then be resolved in the courts of that jurisdiction, if necessary. The Convention does not 

address who should have custody of the child; it addresses where the custody case should 

be heard. A detailed summary of the basic provisions of the Hague Abduction Convention, 

the role of the Central Authority, and the process for invoking the Convention is available at 

the “Legal Information” webpage of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. Go to www. 

travel.state.gov, click on the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab and then select the 

“Legal Information” tab. 

As of February 15, 2018, the Hague Abduction Convention is in force between the United States 

and 77 other countries. Each country that is party to the Convention has designated a Central 

Authority, a specific government office, to carry out specialized Convention duties. To see a list of 

countries that are treaty partners with the United States under the Convention, go to www.travel. 

state.gov, choose the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab, click on the “Abductions” tab, 

and then choose “U.S. Hague Convention Treaty Partners” in the left menu bar. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Types of Assistance the U.S. Department 

of State Can Provide to Law Enforcement 

The Office of Children’s Issues coordinates the following services for law 

enforcement: 

• Facilitates the return of an 

abducted child in cases where 

the Hague Convention on the 

Civil Aspects of International 

Child Abduction applies. 

• Coordinates interagency efforts 

to ensure the safe return of a 

child abducted from the United 

States, especially when U.S. 

embassies abroad are involved. 

• Coordinates with consular 

officers at U.S. embassies and 

consulates to provide support 

and assistance to returning 

children. 

• Facilitates issuance of U.S. travel 

documents for a child when 

necessary. 

• Assists parents who are 

financially unable to recover their 

child from another country in 

conjunction with the National 

Center for Missing & Exploited 

Children, which provides travel 

assistance to qualified parents. 

• Furnishes information concerning 

passport issuance and passport 

number for a child. (Information 

from an adult’s passport records 

is available from the Office 

of Passport Services’ Law 

Enforcement Liaison Division.) 

• Requests that a U.S. embassy 

or consulate abroad attempt to 

verify entry of a taking parent 

and a child into that country, 

establish their whereabouts, and 

check on the child’s welfare. 

• Enrolls the child’s name in the 

Children’s Passport Issuance 

Alert Program, and facilitates 

placing a hold on the issuance 

of a passport to a minor child 

when a custody order exists. 

Note: The U.S. Department 

of State Office of Passport 

Services’ Legal Affairs Division 

and Law Enforcement Liaison 

may take revocation action 

regarding adults’ passports, 

consistent with applicable 

regulations, upon an appropriate 

law enforcement request. 

• Alerts foreign officials to any 

apparent child abuse or neglect. 

• Provides country-specific 

information on diverse topics 

such as custody and immigration 

laws, travel restrictions, and 

crime and security data. 

• Requests that foreign governments 

exercise any power they have 

under their domestic law to 

protect an abducted child. 

• Coordinates the urgent filing 

of a Hague application to allow 

foreign authorities to assist as 

appropriate, and coordinates 

itinerary and arrival times with 

the Central Authority and law 

enforcement in the United States 

and/or the destination country. 

37 
38 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

 

Central Authorities communicate with each other and help parents file applications 

for the return of their children or for access to their children under the Convention. 

Information on how to “File a Hague Application” is available on the Bureau of Consular 

Affairs’ website. Go to www.travel.state.gov, choose the “International Parental 

Child Abduction” tab, click on the “Abductions” tab, and then choose “File a Hague 

Application” in the left menu bar. 

Investigators should note that although the Office of Children’s Issues plays a key role 

in coordinating the resolution of child abduction matters through the Hague Abduction 

Convention, the Office does not act as an attorney or agent on behalf of the applicant 

parent. Left-behind parents may be eligible for free legal representation in the foreign 

country; the Office can discuss this with the foreign Central Authority. Law enforcement 

should immediately refer left-behind parents to the Office of Children’s Issues for further 

information and assistance regarding Hague return applications. 

As part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Overseas Citizen Services, the Office of 

Children’s Issues provides information to parents with child kidnapping cases involving 

U.S. citizen children younger than age 16 who are taken to countries that are not partners 

with the United States under the Hague Abduction Convention. 

Law enforcement investigators should maintain close consultation with the Office of 

Children’s Issues and provide new developments or updates on the case. 

Passport Services 

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program. The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert 

Program (CPIAP) is one of the U.S. Department of State’s most important tools for 

preventing international parental child abduction. The program allows parents who are 

concerned about a possible abduction to register their U.S. citizen children younger 

than age 18 in the Department’s Passport Lookout System. If a passport application is 

submitted for a child who is registered in the CPIAP system, the Office of Children’s 

Issues attempts to alert the requesting parent. This procedure provides parents with 

advance warning of possible plans for international travel with the child. More information 

is available at the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. Go to www.travel.state.gov, select 

the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab and then the “Prevention” tab. Click on 

“Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program” in the left menu bar. 

Unless an exception applies, both parents or each of the child’s legal guardians must 

execute the passport application for children younger than age 16. A passport application 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 39 

may be executed on behalf of a minor younger than age 16 by only one parent or legal 

guardian if that person provides a notarized, written statement or affidavit from the 

nonapplying parent or legal guardian consenting to the issuance of the passport, or 

documentary evidence that he or she is the sole parent or has sole custody of the 

minor. Minors younger than age 18 generally must appear in person when applying 

for a U.S. passport. For children ages 16 to 18, the child may be able to execute his or her 

own application. However, the passport authorizing officer has the discretion to require a 

minor age 16 or 17 to submit the notarized consent of a parent, legal guardian, or person in 

loco parentis. Detailed information on passports for minors age 16 and younger is available 

at the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ U.S. Passports webpage for “Children Under 16.” Go to 

www.travel.state.gov, select the “U.S. Passports” tab and then the “Apply for or Renew 

My Passport” tab. Select “Children Under 16” in the left menu bar. Detailed information on 

passports for minor children ages 16 and 17 is available on the same webpage. 

Before any passport is issued, the passport applicant’s name is checked against 

a central system. A local, state, or federal law enforcement agency may request that 

a subject under criminal investigation be placed in the passport name-check system 

so law enforcement will be notified before a passport is issued, even when there is no 

felony warrant or court order. The written request should be sent to the Legal Affairs 

Division of the Office of Passport Services. It must include the subject’s full biographical 

data (including date and place of birth and Social Security number), the factual basis for 

the request, the criminal statute under which the subject is being investigated, and the 

contact information of the investigating officer. More information on how to submit a 

passport records request can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. Go to 

www.travel.state.gov, select the “U.S. Passports” tab and then the “Legal Matters” tab. 

Click on “Passport Information for Law Enforcement” in the left menu bar. 

Passport denial and revocation. A local, state, or federal enforcement agency may 

request the denial or revocation of a passport on several regulatory grounds found at 

22 C.F.R. §§ 51.60–51.62. Passports may be denied or revoked for a number of reasons. 

Among them are a valid unsealed local, state, or federal felony warrant of arrest; a state 

or federal criminal court order or a condition of parole or probation forbidding departure 

from the United States; or a request for extradition to or from the United States. All 

passport applications are run through various law enforcement and other databases. 

Note: A defendant fugitive will be notified of the warrant when he or she receives the 

notice of passport revocation. 
40 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

The Legal Affairs Division and Law Enforcement Liaison of the U.S. Department of State’s 

Office of Passport Services must authorize all revocations of a U.S. passport. Passport 

revocation may be prompted for the reasons a passport may be denied under 22 C.F.R. 

§ 51.60, or as addressed in 22 C.F.R. § 51.62, upon a determination that the passport was 

obtained fraudulently, illegally, or erroneously or when the person’s certificate of naturalization 

or certificate of citizenship was canceled. The U.S. Department of State can revoke a child’s 

passport only if it was erroneously, illegally, or fraudulently issued at the time or if the child is 

not entitled to it under the provisions set forth in 22 C.F.R. §§ 51.60–51.62. 

The Office of Passport Services’ Legal Affairs Division will coordinate the placement of a 

hold on the issuance of a passport to a fugitive, and may revoke a fugitive’s U.S. passport. 

Law enforcement should notify the Legal Affairs Division once a subject is apprehended, 

when the warrant is quashed, or when passport action is no longer needed. 

Bureau of Diplomatic Security 

In cases involving international parental child abduction, the Office of Children’s Issues 

coordinates with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the U.S. Department of State’s 

law enforcement arm around the world. DSS has more than 900 special agents who 

serve as Regional Security Officers (RSOs), Deputy Regional Security Officers (DRSOs), 

and Assistant Regional Security Officers (ARSOs) in 189 of the 266 U.S. embassies, 

consulates, and locations of interest abroad. In many countries, the resident RSO is the 

only U.S. law enforcement representative. U.S. diplomatic missions without a resident 

RSO are covered regionally by the nearest RSO. DSS officers also work closely with 

officials at U.S. international airports. 

The Washington, DC-based DSS Criminal Investigative Liaison Branch serves as a 

clearinghouse for law enforcement leads on international parental kidnapping and 

wrongful retention cases. Requests for law enforcement assistance can be sent directly 

to crimeliaison@state.gov. In addition, DSS has 8 field offices located in major U.S. cities 

and 21 resident offices in other cities throughout the United States. 

In conjunction with efforts by the Office of Children’s Issues, RSOs on U.S. diplomatic 

missions abroad may request that foreign police contacts ascertain a child’s location, 

even when there is no warrant for the taking parent. Additionally, domestic and overseas 

DSS agents investigate passport and visa fraud violations in relation to parental child 

abduction cases. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 41 

U.S. Department of Justice 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) also offers resources to assist in international 

parental kidnapping investigations, as discussed in the following sections. 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the law enforcement agency tasked with 

investigating international parental kidnapping cases under the International Parental 

Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA) and the Fugitive Felon Act. Requirements for obtaining 

Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrants and IPKCA charges are discussed 

in chapter 6. The FBI can take steps to stop kidnappings in progress and coordinate the 

international law enforcement response when taking parents have reached their foreign 

destinations. See When and How the FBI Gets Involved (page 23) for further discussion 

of the FBI’s role in investigating IPKCA cases. 

The FBI Legal Attaché (often referred to as a “Legat”) has an official presence in many 

countries to serve mutual law enforcement interests. Located in U.S. embassies around 

the world, Legats act as liaisons to the principal law enforcement and intelligence 

services in their host countries. The Legat stationed at a U.S. embassy abroad may 

request assistance from local law enforcement in that country to locate or to confirm 

the location of a taking parent and child. Although the FBI will not divulge criminal 

investigative information to the left-behind parent, the case agent may notify the parent 

if the child is found so the parent can pursue appropriate civil remedies to secure the 

child’s lawful return. 

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices 

There are 93 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) throughout the country. USAOs work 

closely with various state, local, and other law enforcement authorities to prosecute 

violations of federal child exploitation laws, including violations of IPKCA. Each U.S. 

Attorney’s Office works as a cooperative team with the law enforcement community to 

prosecute this crime. Furthermore, each district has victim assistance personnel who 

provide services to crime victims and ensure they are accorded their rights as cases 

progress through the criminal justice system. Victim assistance staff have been trained 

to ensure that child victims of crime have access to services that will address their 

unique and challenging needs. 
42 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division 

Trial attorneys with DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), in conjunction 

with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the nation, investigate and prosecute 

defendants who have violated federal child exploitation laws, including violations 

of IPKCA. CEOS provides advice and litigation support to other federal prosecutors 

regarding prosecutions under IPKCA. It also conducts training for federal prosecutors, law 

enforcement personnel, and others on IPKCA and its interplay with the Hague Convention 

on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. 

Office of International Affairs 

DOJ’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) in the Criminal Division assists state and 

federal prosecutors with requests for the extradition of a fugitive from a foreign country, 

including requests for the urgent provisional arrest of a criminal fugitive in flight or who 

poses a danger. It also helps obtain evidence from abroad. OIA can quickly assess 

whether there is an extradition treaty in force with another country and whether parental 

kidnapping is encompassed by the relevant treaty. OIA maintains relationships with 

nontreaty countries regarding the potential for cooperation in the absence of a treaty. 

It does not handle child return but closely coordinates its efforts to locate and return a 

criminal fugitive with efforts by the Office of Children’s Issues at the U.S. Department 

of State and others to return a child. To learn more about OIA, visit its webpage at 

www.justice.gov/criminal-oia. 

U.S. National Central Bureau 

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is a 190-nation police 

communications network that enables police forces around the world to coordinate 

international criminal investigations and to exchange information about humanitarian 

issues. INTERPOL has no independent law enforcement authority; a country’s 

participation is voluntary. 

All INTERPOL member countries maintain a national central bureau (NCB) that serves as 

that country’s point of contact with the international law enforcement community. The 

U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) is an office within the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Each state also has an INTERPOL coordinator who acts as a liaison with the USNCB. 

When an international kidnapping from the United States is underway, U.S. law 

enforcement must rapidly notify and request assistance from appropriate foreign law 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 43 

enforcement authorities. In addition to calling the FBI Field Office, local, state, and 

federal law enforcement in the United States can contact USNCB–INTERPOL 24 hours 

a day, 7 days a week, to alert foreign authorities of a potential child abduction. For 

additional assistance, contact the INTERPOL liaison in your state. 

INTERPOL diffusions. USNCB can transmit immediate, text-only messages, called 

diffusions, to one or more foreign NCBs at any time, asking police authorities of each 

recipient country to do the following: 

• Search for a fugitive charged with a crime carrying a penalty of more than 1 year of 

imprisonment, whom the prosecutor is willing to extradite. 

• Trace and locate a taking parent, even if he or she is not charged with a crime. 

• Locate and ascertain the safety and welfare of a missing or abducted child. 

Diffusions may also inform foreign authorities of any medical conditions that a child has, 

warn of any particular danger to the child, and ask that an abducted child be placed in 

protective custody. 

The most expedient way to have an INTERPOL diffusion issued on a child is to give 

INTERPOL the necessary information via NLETS (The International Justice and Public 

Safety Network) at www.nlets.org. 

INTERPOL notices. If a taking parent and child are believed to have entered a foreign 

country and their location is unknown, USNCB may apply to INTERPOL headquarters 

in Lyon, France, for color-coded notices to search for them internationally. Each notice 

includes the subject’s identification, photograph, and fingerprints, if available, as well 

as case information. It asks any country that locates the parent and child to notify the 

requesting country immediately so it may request extradition, facilitate a request for the 

child’s return under the Hague Abduction Convention, or take other action as appropriate. 

INTERPOL headquarters translates notices into four languages and sends them to all 

190 INTERPOL members. 

INTERPOL will also perform the following services: 

• Interview witnesses. 

• Provide name, criminal history, fingerprint, and license checks. 

• Search for telephone subscriber information. 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

INTERPOL Notices 

Red notices (fugitive) seek persons wanted for criminal prosecution and return 

to the prosecuting country. A red notice requires a state or federal arrest 

warrant for at least one crime that carries more than 1 year of imprisonment, 

plus the prosecutor’s written agreement to seek extradition of the fugitive 

(generally, from any country that can extradite the fugitive to the United States 

for the crime in question). 

A red notice asks police in all International Criminal Police Organization 

(INTERPOL) member countries to locate the fugitive and, if permissible under 

the law of the country in question, to detain the fugitive for a limited period 

so the seeking country can make a formal request for extradition through 

the prescribed channel. All red notices requested for international parental 

kidnapping must include a yellow notice for each victim who is a minor. 

Blue notices (trace and locate) seek persons, including taking parents, even 

when they have not been charged with a crime. 

Yellow notices (missing person) seek missing persons, including abducted 

children. A yellow notice on an abducted child can be requested with a red or 

blue notice on a taking parent. 

• Conduct photograph and physical description checks. 

• Locate information on ownership of weapons and vehicles. 

Whether to request a diffusion and/or notice in any given case is a decision for law 

enforcement and the prosecutor. Each foreign law enforcement authority handles 

INTERPOL diffusions and notices according to its country’s law and practice. USNCB 

has no authority over how a foreign country handles INTERPOL communications. 

USNCB promptly conveys any response it receives to the relevant U.S. authorities. 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border security agency within 

the U.S. Department of Homeland Security focused on securing U.S. borders while 

facilitating lawful international trade and travel. As required by Title III of the International 

Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, 6 U.S.C. § 241, CBP, in cooperation with the 

U.S. Department of State, has established a program that seeks to prevent the departure 

44 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 45 

of a child from the United States when presented with an order from a court of competent 

jurisdiction that prohibits the child’s removal from the United States. Parents and legal 

guardians may submit such a court order to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of 

Children’s Issues, which coordinates closely with CBP and other law enforcement officials 

to prevent international child kidnappings. Additionally, state and federal agencies may 

work directly with CBP, for example, in an emergency situation or when there is a warrant 

issued to detain the potential taking parent and child who are attempting to depart the 

United States, and to permit the state or federal agency to take appropriate action. 

U.S. Department of Defense 

Law enforcement agencies investigating cases of children wrongfully removed to or 

retained at an overseas military installation may seek a base commander’s assistance in 

addressing the criminal or civil aspects of the case. Official U.S. Department of Defense 

(DoD) policy, expressed in Department of Defense Instruction 5525.09 (Compliance 

of DoD Members, Employees, and Family Members Outside the United States With 

Court Orders), is to cooperate with the courts and with local, state, and federal officials 

in enforcing court orders relating to active-duty members and civilian employees of the 

Armed Forces stationed outside the United States and family members who accompany 

them, who have been charged with or convicted of a felony, held in contempt, or ordered 

to show cause for parental kidnapping. 

Legal Assistance Offices 

The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps legal assistance offices are the points of 

contact for inquiries concerning legal issues in the kidnapping of a child by a parent or 

other family member either on active duty with that armed service or accompanying 

such a service member. They are also points of contact for the U.S. Department of 

State in cases of international kidnapping of the children of service members. You can 

find the appropriate military legal assistance office by using the search tool on the U.S. 

Department of Defense “Military Installations” webpage at www.militaryinstallations. 

dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0. 

Military Locator Service 

State and federal agencies and family members can obtain location information 

for active-duty service members by their respective branch of service from the 
46 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

following webpage at USA.gov: “Locate Military Members, Units, and Facilities” 

(www.usa.gov/military-personnel-and-installations). 

Office of Personnel Management 

The Office of Personnel Management can provide current address information on any 

retired civil servant if the proper release document or legal authority has been received. 

Law enforcement also may obtain investigative leads for locating the taking parent and 

abducted child by tracing pension payments through address or direct deposit information. 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office 

A child’s school records, as well as requests to transfer records, may provide investigative 

leads in a parental kidnapping case. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 

U.S.C. § 1232g) permits a parent to find out from school officials whether a minor child’s 

school records have been transferred to a new school or if copies have been sent to the 

taking parent. If the records have been forwarded, the left-behind parent is entitled to learn 

the name, address, and telephone number of the new school. 

Through a court order, a parent also has the right to block a transfer of school records. 

However, this is not recommended because it eliminates an often successful means of 

tracking the suspect’s movements. 

Federal Parent Locator Service 

The Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) may provide address information on taking 

parents and abducted children to “authorized persons” pursuant to the Parental Kidnapping 

Prevention Act for purposes of making or enforcing child custody determinations and for 

enforcing state or federal criminal parental kidnapping laws (42 U.S.C. § 663). 

FPLS uses Social Security numbers to search numerous government databases 

for the most recent address and employment information on the taking parent and 

child. Participating agencies include the Office of Children’s Issues, Social Security 

Administration, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. 

Department of Veterans Affairs, state employment security agencies, and the National 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 47 

 

Directory of New Hires. In particular, two Office of Children’s Issues webpages may 

be helpful: “Steps to Stopping an Abduction in Progress” and “Information About the 

Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act.” 

Go to www.travel.state.gov, select the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab 

and then the “Prevention” tab. Click on the respective resources in the left menu bar. 

Authorized persons include: 

• State and federal attorneys authorized to investigate, enforce, or prosecute the 

unlawful taking or restraint of a child. 

• Any agent or attorney of any state with the duty or authority under state law to 

enforce child custody determinations. 

• Courts (or their agents) with jurisdiction to make or enforce a child custody 


determination.
 

The U.S. Central Authority and DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention may also obtain address information from FPLS. 

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents may submit requests directly to FPLS. Such requests 

must be accompanied by a statement signed by the agent or U.S. Attorney attesting that 

the request is being made solely to locate an individual in connection with a parental 

kidnapping or child custody case and that any information obtained through FPLS shall 

be treated as confidential, safeguarded, and used solely for the purpose for which it was 

obtained. Other authorized persons can submit requests to the State Parent Locator 

Service in their state, which will forward them to FPLS. Requests must include the taking 

parent’s name, date of birth, and Social Security number. If the Social Security number is 

not known, FPLS will try to find it. 

Courts may obtain address information in custody and visitation cases where there is 

evidence of domestic violence or child abuse, but further disclosure is restricted if it would 

endanger the parent or child. 

Law enforcement officers with questions about FPLS can also contact the National 

Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Requests for address information can 

be made by calling 800–THE–LOST. 
48 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
 

NCMEC is the nation’s clearinghouse on issues related to missing and sexually exploited 

children. It is a private, nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to 

assist law enforcement, families, and the professionals who serve them. As part of its 

mission, NCMEC provides technical assistance in cases of child kidnapping, missing 

children, and child sexual exploitation. 

Family Abduction Unit 

NCMEC’s Family Abduction Unit provides technical assistance and support for families, 

law enforcement agencies, and attorneys. This support focuses on preventing family 

kidnappings and assisting in the location and recovery of missing children both nationally 

and internationally. 

The unit’s case managers work each case individually, coordinating with government and 

nongovernment agencies in the United States and other countries to provide technical 

assistance and information regarding both civil and criminal remedies. The unit also 

helps identify, develop, and promote resources for resolving national and international 

family kidnappings through trainings and presentations for the legal and law enforcement 

communities. For more information, call 800–THE–LOST or visit www.missingkids.org/ 

theissues/familyabduction. 

Family Advocacy Division 

NCMEC’s Family Advocacy Division is a team of dedicated professionals who work with 

officers and families to provide counseling and reunification assistance and referrals. 

The division can also locate short- and long-term support for families through local victim 

advocates and mental health agencies. Its staff can help make skilled therapists available 

during every stage of reconnecting and rebuilding, whether it is at the airport as a 

recovered child steps off a plane or months later. 

The Family Advocacy Division works closely with DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime 

and administers its Victim Reunification Travel program. Eligible parents can request 

financial assistance to attend a Hague Abduction Convention or custody hearing or to 

be reunited with a child located in another country. To learn more about the program, 

visit www.missingkids.org/reunification. For more information, call 800–THE–LOST 

or visit www.missingkids.org/Support. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

State Missing Children Clearinghouses 

Every state has a missing children clearinghouse that serves as a central repository for 

information on missing children and that provides assistance to both parents and law 

enforcement. State clearinghouses offer services such as case registration, information 

research, analytical assistance, technical support, photo and poster dissemination, and 

preventive and educational programs. Investigators may contact clearinghouses in 

other states for help following up on out-of-state leads. A list of state missing children 

clearinghouses and their contact information is available at www.missingkids.org/theissues/ 

missing/clearinghouses. 

NCMEC Services Related to International 

Parental Child Kidnapping 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides the 

following services to assist law enforcement and parents: 

• Confirms National Crime 

Information Center Missing 

Person File entries for missing 

children. 

• Provides technical case 

assistance. 

• Organizes networks for 

law enforcement personnel 

investigating cases in the United 

States and internationally. 

• Operates a 24-hour, toll-free 

hotline. 

• Distributes photos and posters 

of missing children. 

• Provides photo enhancement 

and age progressions of missing 

children photos. 

• Records leads and sightings and 

disseminates related information. 

• Operates Project ALERT, a team 

of retired law enforcement 

professionals, with members 

located throughout the 

country, that provides free 

onsite assistance to local law 

enforcement agencies in difficult 

missing children cases. 

• Helps coordinate and plan 

successful reunification of the 

child and parent. 

• Administers victim reunification 

travel funds to financially eligible 

parents for international travel 

to attend a court hearing or to 

reunite with abducted children. 

• Provides information and 

technical assistance to parents, 

officers, and attorneys on 

preventing family kidnappings. 

• Provides information about the 

Hague application process and 

assists parents and attorneys with 

questions about necessary forms. 

49 
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Resource Sheet 

This resource sheet is a guide for tracking communications throughout the 

investigation. It does not contain an exhaustive list or any required resources. 

State Prosecutor 

Date: 

Contact: 

U.S. Attorney’s Office 

Date: 

Contact: 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Unlawful Flight To Avoid 


Prosecution warrant
 

Date:
 

o International Parental 


Kidnapping Crime Act
 

Warrant 


Date:
 

o Legal Attaché (Legat)
 

Name:
 

Country:
 

INTERPOL 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Diffusion
 

Date:
 

o Color-coded notices
 

Date:
 

Office of International Affairs 

Date: 

Contact: 

U.S. Department of State 

Office of Children’s Issues 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Welfare and whereabouts check 

Date: 

o Child in Children’s Passport 

Issuance Alert Program—hold 

on passport issuance with 

appropriate court order or 

request for notification 

Date: 

o Hague Abduction Convention 

application
 

Date:
 

Office of Passport Services 

Date: 

Contact: 

o Taking parent passport denial/ 

revocation
 

Date:
 

Bureau of Diplomatic Security 

Date: 

Contact: 

U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security 

Customs and Border Protection 

Date: 

Contact: 

U.S. Department of Defense 

Overseas base commanders 

Date: 

Legal Assistance Offices 

Date: 

Military Members, Units, and 

Facilities Locator 

Date: 

Office of Personnel Management 

Date: 

Contact: 

Federal Parent Locator Service 

Date: 

Contact: 

National Center for Missing & 

Exploited Children 

Date: 

Contact: 

State Missing Children 

Clearinghouse 

Date: 

Contact: 

Local Nonprofit Missing Children 

Organizations 

Agency name: 

Date: 

Contact: 

50 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 6. Criminal 

Prosecution and 

Extradition 

What Are the Options for Criminal Charging in International 

Parental Kidnapping Cases, and When Should Charges Be Pursued? 

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the territories, the federal government, 

and many foreign governments recognize the international kidnapping of a child 

by his or her parent as a serious crime, subject to penalties of more than 1 year 

in prison. State felony kidnappings that involve interstate or international flight to avoid 

prosecution may also result in federal criminal charges under the Fugitive Felon Act. 

International parental child abduction is a federal felony under the International Parental 

Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA). Some kidnappings may not be a crime under state law 

but may be subject to prosecution under IPKCA (for example, kidnappings or attempted 

kidnappings that occur before the entry of a custody decree in states that require 

violation of such orders for prosecution, or kidnappings or attempted kidnappings that 

interfere with visitation rights not encompassed by a state statute). 

Charging Considerations 

Decisions on whether to seek state or federal criminal charges are made on a case-by-case 

basis. Any assessment of whether to proceed criminally against a taking parent involves many 

factors, as discussed below. 

Criminal Charges May Cause the Abductor To Go Deeper Into Hiding 

Upon learning of criminal charges, some individuals may return a child, but others may 

react by going deeper into hiding, particularly if they are in a country where family or 

community support exists. For this reason, it may be appropriate to seal arrest warrants 

and charging documents except for purposes of locating and bringing the fugitive into 

51 
52 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

custody. Consult with the prosecutor on these matters and on how best to communicate 

with the parties involved. 

Filing Criminal Charges May Affect Hague Abduction Convention 

Return Proceedings 

IPKCA expresses the sense of Congress that the Hague Abduction Convention, if 

applicable, is the preferred remedy for parents who are seeking to recover a child. This 

is not a legislative prohibition against criminal charges but rather a view that the Hague 

Abduction Convention should be a parent’s first recourse when the goal is the return of 

a child abducted to a Hague country. Additional discussion and a list of pros and cons on 

this action in a Hague case are available on the “Pressing Criminal Charges” webpage 

of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. Go to www.travel.state.gov, choose the 

“International Parental Child Abduction” tab, click on the “Abductions” tab, and then 

choose “Legal Information for Parents” in the left menu bar. 

Filing criminal charges in cases involving kidnappings to non-Hague countries may have 

some benefits, but bringing the taking parent to justice can be challenging. Some nonHague countries may not consider the kidnapping or retention of a child by his or her 

parent a crime, making it impossible to extradite the offender. These offenders might 

be arrested if they return to the United States or enter other countries that recognize 

parental kidnapping as a crime. International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) 

alerts of various kinds may help detect the taking parent’s travel to the United States, 

with or without the child, or that parent’s travel to other countries from which extradition 

might be possible. Consult INTERPOL to determine whether certain alerts can be 

issued in a particular case. Consult the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of 

International Affairs (OIA) to learn about the country in question. 

Effect of a Trial on the Victims 

Discuss with the prosecution and the left-behind parent the appropriateness and 

necessity of criminal proceedings. A left-behind parent may be reluctant to pursue 

criminal charges because the child may be required to testify against the taking parent 

at trial. If the left-behind parent has to pursue private civil remedies to recover the child, 

the added emotional burden of a criminal trial may be daunting. Although civil remedies 

and sanctions can support family stability, bringing private civil actions against an 

uncooperative and resourceful parent may be difficult and costly. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

The decision to pursue criminal charges is complex and should be made following 

consultation between the prosecution and the left-behind parent. The decision to pursue 

criminal charges should not be made solely to influence the results of any civil litigation. 

Statutory Defense 

Evaluate all possible statutory defenses, including domestic violence and abuse. It is 

crucial in any case involving parental kidnapping to fully evaluate all aspects of the case, 

including potential affirmative defenses. The federal IPKCA statute and many state 

Criminal Statutes 

Parental Kidnapping 

The abduction of a minor across international borders is a felony offense under 

federal law and the laws of all 50 states. The language used in the federal 

statute also makes an attempt to kidnap a child a criminal offense. 

International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (18 U.S.C. § 1204) 

(a) Whoever removes a child from the United States, or attempts to do so, or 

retains a child (who has been in the United States) outside the United States 

with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights shall be fined under 

this title or imprisoned not more than 3 years or both. 

Definitions 

(b)(1) “child” means a person who has not attained the age of 16 years 

(b)(2) “parental rights” means the right to physical custody of the child 

(A) whether joint or sole (and includes visiting rights); and 

(B) whether arising by operation of law, court order, or legally binding 

agreement 

Affirmative Defenses 

(c)(1) the defendant acted within the provisions of a valid court order granting 

the defendant legal custody or visitation rights and that the order was obtained 

pursuant to the UCCJA [Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (or the 

UCCJEA) [Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act] and was in 

effect at the time of the offense; 

(c)(2) the defendant was fleeing an incidence or pattern of domestic violence; or 

(c)(3) the defendant had physical custody of the child pursuant to a court order 

granting legal custody or visitation rights and failed to return the child as a 

result of circumstances beyond the defendant’s control and defendant notified 

or made reasonable attempts to notify the other parent or lawful custodian of 

the child of such circumstances within 24 hours after the visitation period had 

expired and returned the child as soon as possible. 

53 
54 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

statutes include potential affirmative defenses to a charge of parental kidnapping. Such 

defenses include a valid court order granting custody or visitation rights to the defendant, 

the defendant’s flight was due to domestic violence, or circumstances beyond the 

defendant’s control prevented the return of the child (see 18 U.S.C. § 1204(c)). During the 

investigation, law enforcement should evaluate the evidence developed in the case with 

these potential defenses in mind and pursue evidence to fully investigate them. 

The Child’s Safety 

The safety of the child is paramount, and it may conflict with returning the child to the 

left-behind parent and with apprehending and prosecuting the taking parent. When 

responding to parental child kidnapping cases, law enforcement and prosecutors should 

draw on civil or criminal remedies (or both), whichever are best suited to the overall 

objectives in the case, and whichever remedy has the facts to support any such action. 

This flexibility is provided by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement 

Act (see chapter 7: Mechanisms for Child Recovery). When criminal remedies are the 

exclusive means by which law enforcement can respond to a parental kidnapping, 

pursuing these remedies will be particularly important. These may include cases in which 

the taking parent poses a risk of harm—or even death—to the child or left-behind parent, 

conceals the child, splits up sibling groups, or effectively abandons the parental role by 

leaving the child with relatives. Other cases, such as the wrongful retention of children 

following a lawful visiting period or other visitation interference, may also warrant 

criminal charges. However, first consider any civil remedies that may be available to the 

left-behind parent for seeking the child’s return. 

Prosecution Options 

This section discusses various prosecution options. 

State Law Prosecution, Coupled With Extradition Request 

Law enforcement and prosecutors must review state parental kidnapping statutes to 

determine if a violation has occurred in a particular case. Federal authorities can assist 

with state criminal investigations and prosecutions by locating the fugitive and facilitating 

international extradition. With this assistance, state law is usually sufficient to address the 

criminal aspects of the kidnapping. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 55 

State Law Prosecution, Coupled With an Unlawful Flight To Avoid 

Prosecution Warrant, Under the Federal Fugitive Felon Act 

The Fugitive Felon Act (18 U.S.C. § 1073) is a federal statute that aids state prosecution. 

It enhances the ability of local and state law enforcement authorities to pursue felons 

beyond state and national borders. Because it permits the Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI) to investigate an otherwise state-only case, it may also facilitate investigation 

internationally. In addition, the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act clarifies congressional 

intent that federal fugitive felony warrants (i.e., Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution, or 

UFAP warrants) may be issued in parental kidnapping cases when the taking parent flees 

the state or the country to avoid prosecution under state felony statutes. 

Procedure for securing an Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution warrant. The local 

or state prosecutor requests a UFAP warrant from a federal prosecutor or the FBI. The 

requirements for obtaining a UFAP warrant in parental kidnapping cases are the same as 

in other fugitive felony cases: 

• A state or local felony warrant must already exist. 

• The state or local prosecutor must agree to extradite the fugitive for prosecution. 

• The federal prosecutor files a criminal complaint charging the fugitive with a 

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1073 based on probable cause that the fugitive has fled the 

jurisdiction of the state to avoid prosecution or confinement. 

FBI investigations pursuant to an Unlawful Flight To Avoid Prosecution arrest 

warrant. Once issued, a UFAP warrant brings the FBI into the investigation, with a focus 

on locating and apprehending the taking parent for a criminal law violation. The agent 

assigned to the case has the full range of federal investigative tools at his or her disposal, 

including access to national and international resources for pursuing the fugitive.4 Federal 

agents will coordinate with the local or state law enforcement agency working on the 

underlying state felony case. If agents discover during a UFAP investigation that the 

taking parent has left the country with the child, the FBI may continue its investigation 

internationally by requesting assistance from law enforcement authorities in other 

countries. Foreign law enforcement assistance would be arranged by the FBI Legal 

Attaché (Legat) or Regional Security Officer in a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. 

4

 If FBI agents discover the child’s whereabouts during their efforts to locate and apprehend the taking parent, they may be authorized 

to alert local child welfare authorities and left-behind parents so they can pursue the child’s recovery. 
56 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

A taking parent who is apprehended by foreign authorities abroad and returned to the 

United States then faces prosecution on the state felony charges. 

Federal Prosecution Under the International Parental Kidnapping 

Crime Act 

As discussed above, international parental kidnapping may be charged as a federal felony 

under the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (18 U.S.C. § 1204), available at 

www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/pdf/USCODE-2011-title18-partI-chap55­

sec1204.pdf. 

Elements of the offense. It is a federal felony to remove or attempt to remove a child 

from the United States, or to retain a child outside the United States, with the intent of 

obstructing the lawful exercise of parental rights. A child is defined as a person who is 

younger than age 16. Parental rights are defined as the right to physical custody of the 

child (including visitation rights), whether the right is joint or sole, and whether the right 

arises by operation of law, court order, or a legally binding agreement of the parties. 

Individuals other than parents also can have these rights, such as grandparents who may 

have been granted rights by a court order. 

Although IPKCA (18 U.S.C. § 1204) is mostly used to charge a parent of the child victim, 

the statute can be used to charge anyone who removes or attempts to remove a child 

from the United States, or retains a child outside the United States, with the intent of 

obstructing the lawful exercise of parental rights. 

Violation of this statute is punishable by a fine, up to 3 years’ imprisonment, or both. 

Affirmative defenses. The alleged taking parent has an affirmative defense if he or she: 

• Was acting within the provisions of a valid custody or visitation rights order in effect at 

the time of the offense. 

• Was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence. 

• Had physical custody of the child pursuant to a court order, failed to return the 

child as a result of circumstances beyond the defendant’s control, notified or made 

reasonable attempts to notify the other parent or lawful custodian of the child of 

such circumstances within 24 hours after the visitation period ended, and returned 

the child as soon as possible. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 57 

U.S. Attorney or Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section brings 

an IPKCA case. The decision to bring an IPKCA case is made—on a case-by-case 

basis—by the U.S. Attorney in the district from which the child was taken, or in 

certain circumstances by the Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section 

in consultation with the FBI. Depending on the circumstances, IPKCA cases may be 

prosecuted in the district in which the offense was begun or completed (including the 

district in which the child was removed from the United States), the district in which 

the overseas offender was first arrested or brought, or following an indictment, in the 

district of the offender’s last known residence. See e.g., United States v. Miller, 808 F.3d 

67 (2d Cir. 2015). See also 18 U.S.C. §§ 3237 and 3238 (federal venue statutes). Federal 

prosecutors may consult with and obtain information concerning the statute from the 

U.S. Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. 

Effect of pending local or state charges. No local or state criminal charge is required 

to charge a defendant under IPKCA. In fact, the existence of state or local charges 

against the taking parent may weigh against issuing federal charges. Because state 

charges assisted by federal resources may be just as effective as federal charges in the 

international arena, pursuit of an IPKCA charge may not be necessary or appropriate if 

state charges are already pending. However, IPKCA may be the only available charging 

option if a kidnapping cannot be charged under state law, or charged under state law in 

such a way as to satisfy any applicable extradition treaty. 

Prosecution in a foreign country. In many foreign countries, nationals of the country 

can be prosecuted for acts committed abroad under the “nationality” basis for criminal 

jurisdiction if the same conduct would constitute a criminal offense under local law. 

Extraditing the Taking Parent 

Extradition involves the surrender of the taking parent to the United States by a foreign 

jurisdiction pursuant to an extradition treaty (or otherwise as permitted by foreign law) 

for purposes of criminal prosecution or service of a sentence in the United States. The 

abducted child is not subject to extradition. Civil remedies or other efforts often are still 

needed for the child to be returned. The prosecutor and law enforcement investigator 

should consider the effect that any effort to arrest and extradite a taking parent may have 

on the welfare of the child and on his or her recovery. 
58 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Requirements

Usually either a state or federal felony violation may serve as the basis for an extradition 

request, provided the potential maximum penalty exceeds 1 year in prison.

Federal and state prosecutors must contact DOJ’s Office of International Affairs at 

the outset of a case in which extradition will be sought so it may transmit extradition 

requests through the U.S. Department of State to the appropriate foreign government 

officials.

Federal and state prosecutors must commit in writing to:

• Prepare the extradition request with supporting evidence.

• Pay the costs of extradition (translation of documents and travel for both escorts

and the fugitive).

• Prosecute the taking parent, if extradition is successful, even when the child can

be returned.

When time is of the essence—due to the flight of the fugitive, the potential for serious 

harm to victims, or other danger to the community—prosecutors (through OIA) may seek 

an urgent “provisional arrest with a view toward extradition” (often used to intercept a 

kidnapping). These urgent requests for provisional arrests can be coupled with a parallel 

urgent Hague Abduction Convention request in Hague countries or other measures to 

arrange for the child’s return. If the requested foreign government provisionally arrests 

General Extradition Requirements for 

International Parental Kidnapping

• An extradition treaty usually must be in force between the United States

and the country involved.

• The treaty must address or be interpreted as covering parental child

kidnapping or custodial interference.

• If the person sought is a national of the country involved, that country

must be willing to extradite its own nationals.

• The country involved must be willing to extradite persons for parental child

kidnapping or custodial interference.
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

the defendant, the United States (through its prosecutor) must submit the full extradition 

request (including sufficient evidence) via the U.S. Department of State to the foreign 

government before the deadline provided by the applicable extradition treaty. 

If a taking parent’s further flight appears unlikely and time otherwise permits, it is a 

better practice to work with OIA and prepare and submit a full request for extradition 

with all necessary evidence at the outset. 

Disposition of U.S. Extradition Requests 

Several variables affect how foreign governments treat U.S. extradition requests: 

• Whether the United States has a bilateral extradition treaty with the country of refuge. 

• Whether the treaty partner can extradite for international parental kidnapping. 

• Whether the country of refuge will extradite its own nationals. 

Most contemporary extradition treaties allow extradition if the offender’s conduct is 

criminal in both countries and the potential maximum punishment meets a specified 

minimum threshold (usually 1 year). However, criminal prosecution coupled with a 

request for extradition is directed at the taking parent and does not guarantee the 

child’s return. There are still some U.S. extradition treaty partners that are reluctant to 

extradite abducting parents. Those countries that do not consider parental kidnapping 

as a crime will not deem the crime as covered by the treaty. Other countries may 

decline to extradite their nationals. Ultimately, the decision to extradite an offender rests 

entirely with the foreign state, through its judiciary and other authorities. (See chapter 7, 

Mechanisms for Child Recovery, to learn how extradition and child recovery efforts can 

be coordinated.) 

Extradition Treaties in Force 

The U.S. Department of State’s Treaty Office publishes an annual comprehensive 

list of all extradition Treaties in Force at www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/tif/index.htm. 

In addition, the Office of International Affairs within the U.S. Department of 

Justice’s Criminal Division can provide up-to-date advice about whether a 

given country is responsive to requests for provisional arrests or extradition 

for parental abduction crimes. 

59 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 7. Mechanisms 

for Child Recovery 

What Tools Are Available To Secure an Abducted Child’s Return to 

the United States? 

Once an abducted child is located, the avenues pursued by left-behind parents 

and law enforcement officers to recover the child will vary, depending in part 

on whether the child was taken to a country that is a member of the Hague 

Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction 

Convention). The U.S. Department of State lists these partner countries on its website. 

Go to www.travel.state.gov, choose the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab, 

click on the “Abductions” tab, and then choose “U.S. Hague Convention Treaty Partners” 

in the left menu bar. However, an important ingredient to any successful child recovery is 

the coordination of federal agencies (U.S. Departments of Justice and State), nonfederal 

agencies (state and local law enforcement, state missing children clearinghouses), and 

nongovernment organizations (such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited 

Children (NCMEC)). In most cases, the parent’s vigorous pursuit of civil remedies with 

the assistance of counsel is another key ingredient. 

Recovering missing and abducted children from many foreign countries requires 

that court documents, custody orders, and state and federal warrants be translated 

and authenticated, which may involve some expense. Some of these steps may be 

completed through the general consul located at the foreign embassy of the country in 

question. Law enforcement should consult with the U.S. Department of State’s Office 

of Children’s Issues on all Hague cases or if a U.S. embassy or consulate is involved in 

recovering the child. 

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62 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Child Recovery Under the Uniform Child Custody 

Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act: A Role for 

Prosecutors and Law Enforcement 

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act adds civil remedies to 

the tools prosecutors already have under criminal statutes to address interstate and 

international child custody and parental kidnapping cases (Hoff, 2001). It gives state 

prosecutors (or other designated public officials) civil statutory authority to take any 

lawful action—including instituting a civil proceeding—to locate a child, obtain the return 

of a child, or enforce a child custody determination in cases arising under the Act or 

involving the Hague Abduction Convention. 

Forty-nine states have enacted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement 

Act, but fewer states have adopted the public official section of the statute. Although it 

is a “uniform” state law, states do not always enact it as originally written. Provisions 

may be added, deleted, or modified. The state statute must be reviewed to determine 

whether the public official provisions are in the law and, if so, which public officials have 

been designated to act. 

Under the public official section, state prosecutors (or other designated officials) are 

authorized to take action if there is (1) a prior custody determination, (2) a request from 

a court in a pending child custody proceeding, (3) a reasonable belief that the criminal 

statute has been violated, or (4) a reasonable belief that a child, in violation of the Hague 

Abduction Convention, has been wrongfully removed or retained. 

The Act authorizes law enforcement officers (or other public officials), on request of 

the state prosecutor (or other designated official), to take any lawful action reasonably 

necessary to locate a child or a party and assist the prosecutor or other public official 

with their responsibilities under the Act. 

The Act also has a cost-shifting provision that allows a court to assess all direct expenses 

incurred by the prosecutor and law enforcement officers acting under the Act against a 

nonprevailing respondent. 

The statute is intended to create an interstate network of prosecutors and law 

enforcement officers (or other designated public officials) who, with both civil and 

criminal legal tools at their disposal, are available to help locate children, return them 

to the court with jurisdiction to resolve custody and visitation issues, and enforce 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 63 

child custody determinations. For example, prosecutors have discretion to decide how 

to proceed in a particular case. They may pursue civil or criminal remedies or both 

simultaneously. When they act, they do so on behalf of the court and do not represent 

any party. From a law enforcement perspective, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction 

and Enforcement Act provides a child-centered—rather than a defendant-centered—tool 

for resolving custody, visitation, and parental kidnapping cases. Although its goal is to 

provide law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools they need to return abducted 

children, remember to check your state statute to determine what tools are available to 

you and how the Act applies to your role in recovering missing children. 

Child Recovery From Hague Countries 

The Hague Abduction Convention is the primary civil law mechanism for parents seeking 

the return of children from other treaty partner countries (see information about the 

Office of Children’s Issues in chapter 5: Federal and Nonfederal Resources). 

Child Recovery From Non-Hague Countries 

When a child is located in a country that is not a member of the Hague Abduction 

Convention, the child may be recovered when parents mutually agree upon voluntary 

return or by applying civil and criminal justice remedies. In these countries, a leftbehind parent may retain the services of an attorney in the country involved and seek 

enforcement of a U.S. custody order based on principles of comity, or file for custody in a 

foreign court based on that country’s child custody laws. However, using the civil justice 

system in foreign countries can be challenging. For additional information on using this 

option, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ “Pressing Criminal Charges” webpage. Go to 

www.travel.state.gov, choose the “International Parental Child Abduction” tab, click on 

the “Abductions” tab, and then choose “Legal Information for Parents” in the left menu 

bar or speak to an officer at the Office of Children’s Issues. 

Child Recovery When Seeking the Offender’s Extradition 

The extradition of a taking parent to the United States (see chapter 6: Criminal Prosecution 

and Extradition) is not a child recovery mechanism. Criminal charges apply only to the 

taking parent, and extradition treaties do not provide for the child’s return. When a fugitive 
64 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

taking parent is arrested in another country, just as in the United States, the foreign 

government may turn the now-unaccompanied child over to welfare authorities or may 

release the child to other family members in the country. For this reason, an approach to 

ensure the child’s return must be put in place in parallel with any request for the arrest and 

extradition of a fugitive taking parent who may still have the child. Active participation of 

the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues is essential here. 

In some circumstances, the U.S. Department of State or U.S. law enforcement may be 

able to provide the requisite documents to the foreign authority so immediate efforts 

after the arrest can be made to return the child. Sometimes, foreign law enforcement 

may plan the arrest in advance and ask the left-behind parent to be in the foreign country 

to take the child into custody. However, this may not be possible, particularly if the leftbehind parent’s safety and security concerns dictate that the details of an imminent 

arrest not be shared outside of law enforcement. With some countries, experience may 

indicate that the filing of a simultaneous Hague application is the better and sometimes 

necessary approach. 

Efforts should be made so the left-behind parent will not have to initiate new civil 

procedures in foreign courts to facilitate the child’s return. If the left-behind parent is not 

notified in advance of the arrest, he or she should be informed as soon thereafter as 

possible so that parent can immediately begin working to bring the child back to the United 

States. Again, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, working with the 

U.S. embassies and U.S. law enforcement representatives abroad, provides a first line of 

assistance to the left-behind parent for the child’s return in conjunction with the arrest of 

a fugitive. Local law enforcement authorities in the foreign country, engaged by U.S. law 

enforcement, also may be able to assist. 

Child Recovery When Seeking the Offender’s Deportation 

Seeking an offender’s deportation is not a child recovery mechanism. In some cases, 

however, it may indirectly help bring about the child’s return. Grounds for another country 

deporting a taking parent to the United States will vary by case and will depend on the 

foreign country’s immigration laws. Justifications may include fraudulent travel (passport) 

documents, the taking parent and minor are overstays (their visitor visa has expired), 

or the taking parent’s U.S. passport was revoked pursuant to 22 C.F.R. § 51.62. For this 

approach, officials must establish that the presence of the taking parent in a particular 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 65 

foreign country is in violation of that country’s immigration laws, usually because he or 

she has no legal immigration status in that country. Any decision to deport the individual 

is entirely at the discretion of the foreign sovereign country. 

In cases where revocation grounds exist, law enforcement agencies may seek 

revocation of a U.S. adult citizen’s passport to facilitate deportation, consistent with 

local law. (For passport information, see chapter 5: Federal and Nonfederal Resources.) 

However, this process may not affect a person who is a dual national. 

As with extradition, there is no guarantee that the child will be returned by foreign 

authorities when the taking parent is deported. Therefore, it is critical that investigators 

closely coordinate all aspects of a request for deportation with the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation and the Office of Children’s Issues to ensure that the child is turned over to 

the custodial parent when the taking parent is detained or that other arrangements are 

made with foreign officials for the child’s return. 

Child Recovery Through U.S. Department of Defense 

Mechanisms 

U.S. Department of Defense policy requires base commanders at U.S. military installations 

overseas to cooperate with courts and with local, state, and federal officials who request 

assistance in enforcing court orders relating to active-duty members of the armed forces— 

and civilian employees and family members who accompany them overseas—who have 

been charged with or convicted of state or federal parental kidnapping, held in contempt, 

or ordered to show cause for failure to obey a custody order.5 

If the matter cannot be resolved in a satisfactory manner, members of the armed 

services must be returned to the United States expeditiously. Civilian employees, 

although not subject to return, would be strongly encouraged to comply with the court 

order or face possible withdrawal of command sponsorship and other adverse action, 

including removal from federal service. Accompanying family members would also 

be strongly encouraged to comply, as failure to do so may be a basis for withdrawing 

command sponsorship of the family member. 

Although an abducted child is not the subject of a return order or other adverse action 

under the regulation, the practical effect may be the same—the child may be returned 

5

 U.S. Department of Defense Instruction 5525.09, Compliance of DoD Members, Employees, and Family Members Outside the 

United States With Court Orders. 
66 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

to the United States as a means of avoiding sanction, or may return to the United States 

with a service member who is ordered back. 

Child Recovery Through the Alien Exclusion Act 

Section 212(a)(10)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is a statutory tool that may 

facilitate the return of an abducted child to the lawful custodian in the United States. 

Under this statute, any alien6 who detains or retains a child, or who withholds custody 

of a child in defiance of a U.S. court order, is excluded from entering the United States 

until he or she surrenders the child to the person granted custody by the court order. 

This bar to admission also applies to any alien who assists the alien taking parent in 

the kidnapping or provides material support or safe haven to that parent. The exclusion 

applies only to aliens and does not apply if the child is located in a Hague partner 

country. The exclusion ceases to apply when the child returns. For more information 

on this exclusion, contact the Office of Children’s Issues or visit the “Ineligibilities and 

Waivers” webpage at www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-informationresources/waivers.html. With appropriate documentation and approval, U.S. consular 

officials may deny a visa to any alien who has abducted a child from the United States to 

a non-Hague country in violation of a U.S. custody order and to an alien accomplice until 

the alien surrenders the child to the left-behind parent. 

6 The term “alien” refers to any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States (8 U.S.C. 1101 § 101 (3)). 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 8. Recovery 

and Reunification 

How Can Law Enforcement Facilitate Recovery and Reunification? 

T

he goal of any parental child kidnapping investigation is to bring the child back to 

the custodial parent safely. The field uses three terms to describe this process: 

recovery, reunion, and reunification (or reintegration). 

Recovery and reunification are different concepts. Recovery involves taking physical 

custody of the abducted child—for example, directly removing the child from the taking 

parent or from school or another location when the child is apart from the taking parent. 

The left-behind parent may or may not be involved in the recovery but is always part of 

reunification, which is both a moment and a process. It is the initial reunion between the 

left-behind parent and child, and encompasses the child’s reintegration into the family 

over time. When the left-behind parent recovers the child, the recovery and reunion are 

one event, and this event is the starting point of the long-term reunification process. 

When law enforcement officials recover the child, they will want to minimize any initial 

trauma the child experiences and provide a secure environment that paves the way for 

successful reunification of the child and parent. U.S. law enforcement agencies are not 

routinely involved in child recoveries in other countries, although they may be involved 

in some cases. Foreign law enforcement may take part in the recovery or may assist 

the left-behind parent’s recovery efforts. When the left-behind parent recovers the child 

in a foreign country, U.S. law enforcement has a limited but important role in facilitating 

the reunification process when the parent and child return to the United States. Law 

enforcement can coordinate the child’s return with the U.S. Department of State’s 

Office of Children’s Issues. For contact information, see chapter 1: Putting the Issue in 

Perspective. 

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68 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Preparing the Parent
 

Law enforcement can facilitate the child’s recovery and return by telling the left-behind 

parent where the child has been, what he or she experienced after the kidnapping, and 

what both the parent and child can expect in the days and weeks ahead. 

The Child’s Emotional State 

Law enforcement should make the left-behind parent aware of the complex emotional 

reactions the child may experience upon recovery. If the child has been missing for 

an extended period of time, the child may have become comfortable in the new 

environment and may be highly attached to the taking parent as the only parent in his or 

her life. Often, the child is told a story about the left-behind parent that may make the 

child afraid of that parent. For example, the child may believe the left-behind parent no 

longer wants the child or may even believe the left-behind parent has died. The child may 

also disclose abuse, which would warrant further investigation. Without careful planning, 

the recovery process can cause significant emotional trauma for the child. In fact, the 

child may perceive the recovery as yet another kidnapping. 

Law enforcement should suggest to parents that they seek out qualified mental health 

professionals who can explain what to expect, prepare the parent for reunification, 

suggest actions that will be comfortable for both the child and the parent, and provide 

ongoing therapeutic intervention for the family, if needed. The National Center for 

Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), state missing children clearinghouses, 

and nonprofit missing children organizations are all potential sources of referrals to 

counselors who have experience with parental kidnapping cases. Law enforcement 

agencies, when possible, should also incorporate the services of a victim-witness 

specialist into all recovery and reunification matters. 

The Child’s Location and Condition 

Local law enforcement should meet with the left-behind parent to disclose the child’s 

whereabouts and describe the child’s living conditions and the general environment. The 

parent should be advised of any false information the child has been told or any mistaken 

beliefs the child may be harboring about the left-behind parent. 

In some circumstances, it may be prudent not to immediately disclose the child’s 

exact whereabouts to the left-behind parent. In some cases, the news of an upcoming 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

The Child’s Recovery 

When children are recovered, many families need assistance reintegrating 

them back into the home. This assistance can be immediate and temporary, or 

long term. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) can 

help families find skilled therapists who will be available during every stage of 

reconnecting and rebuilding, whether it is at the airport as the child gets off a 

plane or months later. For information regarding reunification, contact NCMEC 

at 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678). 

recovery may travel quickly from a close circle of family members or friends back to the 

taking parent, which could impede the recovery effort. Withholding information about the 

child’s exact whereabouts also reduces the possibility of any “self-help” by a left-behind 

parent, family member, or friend that could jeopardize the investigation and recovery. The 

left-behind parent will be anxious to be reunited with the child; however, care should be 

taken to avoid the possibility that the taking parent may flee with the child again. 

The Foreign Country 

In some international family kidnappings, the left-behind parent may need to travel to the 

country where the child has been taken. This can create a great deal of anxiety for the 

parent, who may or may not know much about that country, and it can be confusing and 

frightening to navigate through another country’s legal system. Local law enforcement 

can help ease the process by giving the parent information on the resources available 

from other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as missing children 

organizations. 

In particular, law enforcement should refer parents to the Office of Children’s Issues, 

the state missing children clearinghouse, the local victim’s advocate, and NCMEC’s 

Team Hope (www.missingkids.org/ourwork/TeamHOPE). NCMEC works closely with 

the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and administers its Victim 

Reunification Travel Program. Eligible parents can request financial assistance so they can 

be reunited with a child located in another country or obtain travel support for the child’s 

return to the United States. Law enforcement officials can contact NCMEC directly 

or refer the parent to NCMEC. For more information, call 800–THE–LOST or visit 

www.missingkids.org/Support. 

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70 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

When U.S. Law Enforcement Recovers the Child Abroad 

Although most police and sheriffs’ departments’ budgets restrict such travel, a local 

investigator may be asked to participate in the physical recovery of a child victim of an 

international kidnapping to further advance a criminal investigation or pursuant to civil 

statutory authority (such as the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, 

discussed in chapter 7: Mechanisms for Child Recovery). This may mean traveling alone 

to retrieve the child, accompanying the left-behind parent to the country where the child 

has been taken, or arranging for the child’s transportation from a border location. 

Law enforcement participation in the recovery has definite advantages. Not only might 

it facilitate the child’s release, it also might help build a criminal case because the officer 

can testify at hearings, interview key witnesses (such as employers, teachers, daycare 

workers, and police), and interview the suspect (Steidel, 2000). 

Planning for Reunification 

Depending on who physically recovers the child, the initial reunification meeting between 

the child and left-behind parent may occur abroad, in the United States, at the local police 

or sheriff’s department, or even at the airport. This meeting should be photographed for 

the case file. 

The reunification meeting is exciting and emotional for both the parent and child. It 

is natural for the parent to want to rush in, grab, and hold the child. However, law 

enforcement should explain that this approach may be overwhelming for the child, and 

ask the parent to approach the meeting cautiously to minimize any trauma to the child. 

Officers and other service providers should share the following tips with left-behind 

parents and others who will be involved in the reunification process: 

• The initial parent-child meeting should take place in a comfortable, private, secure 

room. 

• The child should not be brought to the parent immediately. Instead, a child 

psychologist or department designee should prepare the child by explaining what 

will happen and where the parent is. Likewise, the parent should receive similar 

assistance and be informed of the child’s physical and emotional state and the 

living conditions in which the child was found. The parent should also be informed 

about what the child has been told and what beliefs the child has about the leftbehind parent and the reason for the kidnapping. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 71 

• The parent should be prepared for any unexpected behavior—such as crying or pulling 

away—that may occur. 

• The parent should be encouraged not to overwhelm the child. The child should set 

the stage for physical contact. Remember, the child may have been told that this 

parent was dead. 

• The left-behind parent should not discuss the taking parent with the child, who 

may experience feelings of loss or sadness and may worry about the other parent. 

If asked, the left-behind parent should choose his or her words carefully. 

• The parent should bring a change of clothing for the child. Authorities may have 

picked the child up at school or otherwise away from home and therefore may not 

have brought any possessions along. 

• The parent should bring special toys, photos, or other items that may help the child 

remember the period prior to the kidnapping. 

• The number of individuals present at the reunification should be kept to a 

minimum, as should the number of people who come to the home on the first 

night after the reunion. Too many well-wishers can overwhelm the child. 

• The parent should be encouraged to seek counseling for both the child and the 

family to help them deal with any issues that may arise in the aftermath of the 

kidnapping. 

Facilitating the Child’s Return to the United States 

When the left-behind parent travels alone to the foreign country to recover the child, local 

law enforcement can support the family’s return to the United States with the following 

measures: 

• Meet the parent and child at the airport when they return to the community. If local 

media are present, intervene on behalf of the family if the parent is uncomfortable 

with the situation and does not want to speak with the press. Although the child is 

now home, the stress is still great, and outside pressure should be minimized. 

• Secure a private room at the airport or police department that the returning parent 

and child can use to meet with other family members. The child will need time to 

reintegrate with other family members in a nonthreatening private environment. 
72 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

• Coordinate with the victim-witness advocate and mental health professionals 

assigned to the child and family as soon as possible. The advocate should be 

present at the reunion and available to assist the family with both short- and 

long-term reunification issues (Turman, 1994). 

Closing the Case 

Once the child is safely back in the United States and in the physical care of the custodial 

parent, law enforcement should follow these steps to close the case: 

• Remove the child and taking parent from the National Crime Information Center. 

• Cancel flags on birth certificates, school transcripts, and medical records. 

• Place a photograph of the child at recovery in the case file. 

• Arrange to have the child interviewed about the details of the kidnapping by a 

child forensic interviewer or in conjunction with a child psychologist or other 

trained professional. Determine exactly what the taking parent told the child 

about the left-behind parent. 

• Determine what measures the taking parent used to conceal the child, and add 

them to the case file. For example, did the parent alter the child’s appearance? Did 

the child attend school? Was the child permitted to contact other family members? 

• Identify opportunities for financial compensation. Money may be available from 

state and federal compensation funds for law enforcement agencies that incur 

substantial costs during an international parental child kidnapping case. In addition, 

refer parents to state and federal crime victim compensation agencies and other 

organizations for possible remuneration. 

• Notify the Office of Children’s Issues about the child’s successful return. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 73 

Followup and Prevention Measures
 

Once the child is back home, the left-behind parent will want to ensure the child’s wellbeing and minimize the potential risk of another kidnapping. 

• The parent should consider counseling for the child, the family, or both. Counseling 

may be available through the investigating agency’s victim-witness advocate or 

chaplain, a qualified local mental health professional, or a child psychologist in the area. 

• The parent should have his or her lawyer review the existing custody order and, if 

necessary, return to court for provisions to safeguard against another kidnapping. 

• The parent should gather information on preventing parental kidnapping. Refer 

the parent to the Office of Children’s Issues and to NCMEC’s Family Abduction: 

Prevention and Response (www.missingkids.com/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/desktop/ 

publications/nc75.pdf). 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Chapter 9. 

Law Enforcement 

Liability Concerns 

What Liability Issues Should Be Considered When Investigating an 

International Parental Kidnapping Case? 

Complex custody situations and conflicting court decrees can pose a serious 

dilemma for the responding law enforcement officer. When the child’s physical 

custody is in question, any inappropriate or unauthorized action by law enforcement 

could pose serious liability issues for both the officer and his or her agency. It is not 

unheard of for a parent to present a void or out-of-date custody order to law enforcement 

to enlist the officer in unknowingly obtaining wrongful custody of a child. However, the 

need for caution should not lead to paralysis. No action or delayed action can result in 

liability issues for the officer and agency as well.7 

This underscores the need for law enforcement to respond to parental kidnapping cases 

in an informed and appropriate manner, with clear department procedures and training 

for officers and investigators that includes teaching them about pertinent state and 

federal laws. 

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, in particular, warrants a 

careful review because it gives prosecutors, law enforcement, and some other public 

officials civil statutory authority to locate and recover abducted children and to enforce child 

custody determinations. Actions taken by law enforcement officers pursuant to the statute 

may remove the threat of liability in parental kidnapping cases. Read the relevant sections 

of the Act, then check the state code to see if your state has enacted these sections. 

7

 For a more extensive discussion of this topic, see Findlay, P., and Lowery, R., eds., 2011, Missing and Abducted Children: A Law 

Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management, fourth ed, Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & 

Exploited Children, pages 99–102. 

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76 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Conclusion 

All reports of missing children require an urgent response to ensure the safety of the 

child and his or her family. International parental kidnappings are not merely family 

disputes but may be criminal offenses that require a proper investigation. Through timely 

and informed actions by law enforcement, child kidnapping cases may be deterred and 

children may be returned in a safe and secure manner. 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

References 

Findlay, P., and Lowery, R., eds. 2011. Missing and Abducted Children: A Law 

Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management. Fourth ed. 

Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. 

Girdner, L., and Johnston, J. 2000. Prevention of Family Abduction Through Early 

Identification of Risk Factors. Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 

Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

(NCJ 182791). 

Hoff, P. 2001. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Bulletin. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of 

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 

Steidel, S., ed. 2000. Missing and Abducted Children: A Law Enforcement Guide to Case 

Investigation and Program Management. Rev. ed. Alexandria, VA: National Center for 

Missing & Exploited Children. 

Turman, K., ed. 1994. Recovery and Reunification of Missing Children: A Team Approach. 

Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. 

77 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

 

Appendix A. Contact List 

U.S. Department of State 

Office of Children’s Issues (Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program) 

Phone: 888–407–4747 or +1 202–501–4444 (if outside the United States)
 

E-mail (if the child is still in the United States): PreventAbduction1@state.gov
 

Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/
 

prevention/passport-issuance-alert-program.html 

Office of Children’s Issues (International Parental Child Abduction) 

Phone: 888–407–4747 or +1 202–501–4444 (if outside the United States) 

E-mail (if the child is outside the United States): CA-CI-DOJ-liaison@state.gov 

Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-ChildAbduction.html 

Existing passport records 

Office of Passport Services, Law Enforcement Liaison Division 

Phone: 202–485–6400 

Passport lookouts, denial, and revocation 

Office of Passport Services, Legal Affairs Division 

Phone: 202–485–6400 

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80 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Bureau of Diplomatic Security 

Phone: 571–345–3146 

Emergency or After-Hours Number: 866–217–2089 

Website: www.state.gov/m/ds/contact/195521.htm 

U.S. Department of Justice 

FBI Field Offices 

Phone: 410–691–5555 

Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field 

When calling an FBI Field Office, ask for a special agent familiar with the investigative 

matters of crimes against children. 

Office of International Affairs 

Phone: For emergencies 24/7 for law enforcement or other government entities only, 


contact 202–514–5000. Ask for the relevant country specialist. 


Website: www.justice.gov/criminal-oia
 

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division 

Phone: 202–514–5780 

Website: www.justice.gov/criminal/ceos 

USNCB–INTERPOL 

Phone (24 Hours): 202–616–9000 

Phone (State Toll-Free): 800–743–5630 

Website: www.justice.gov/interpol-washington 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 81 

 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
 

Customs and Border Protection 

Phone: 877–227–5511 

Website: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/827 

U.S. Department of Defense 

Military Locator Service 

Phone: 703–545–6700 

Websites: www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0 

www.usa.gov/military-personnel-and-installations 

Office of Personnel Management 

Phone: 202–606–2424 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office 

Phone: 202–260–3887 

Website: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html 

Federal Parent Locator Service 

Phone: 202–401–1467 

Website: www.acf.hhs.gov/css/resource/federal-parent-locator-service-information-forfamilies 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 

Phone: 800–THE–LOST (24-hour hotline) 

Website: www.missingkids.org 

A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 

Appendix B. 

Resources and 

Recommended Readings 

General Information 

Statistical Overview 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/forproviders/legal-reports-and-data/data.html 

Abduction Prevention 

U.S. Department of State 

Tips for Preventing Abduction 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/ 

prevention/prevention-tips.html 

Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International 

Child Abduction 

U.S. Department of State 

Overview of the Hague Abduction Convention 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/forproviders/laws.html 

List of Hague Abduction Convention Partner Countries 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/ 

abductions/hague-abduction-country-list.html 

83 
84 OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION • OJJDP.GOV

Pressing Criminal Charges 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/ 

abductions/legain-info-for-parents/pressing-criminal-charges.html 

Recovery From Non-Hague Countries 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/ 

abductions/using-foreign-civil-courts.html 

Immigration and Nationality Act, Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/waivers.html 

Investigations 

Federal Agency Task Force for Missing and Exploited Children 

Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law 

Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies 

www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/231619.pdf 

International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (18 U.S.C. § 1204) 

www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/pdf/USCODE-2011-title18-partI-chap55­

sec1204.pdf 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 

Effective Use of the National Crime Information Center Database With Missing-Child 

Incidents: A Reference Guide for Public-Safety Telecommunications Personnel 

www.missingkids.org/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/documents/ncicguide.pdf 

Investigative Checklist for First Responders 

www.missingkids.org/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/desktop/publications/nc88.pdf 

U.S. Department of State 

Passport Information for Law Enforcement Officers 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/legal-matters/law-enforcement.html 
A LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE ON International Parental Kidnapping 85 

Passport Information 

U.S. Department of State 

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/ 

prevention/passport-issuance-alert-program.html 

Passports for Children Younger Than Age 16 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/under-16.html 

Ages 16 and 17 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/16-17.html 

Resources for Families 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 

Family Abduction: Prevention and Response 

www.missingkids.org/content/dam/ncmec/en_us/publications/nc75.pdf 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

The Crime of Family Abduction: A Child’s and Parent’s Perspective 

www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/229933.pdf 

A Family Resource Guide on International Parental Kidnapping 

www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/215476.pdf 

U.S. Department of State 

Understanding and Using UCAPA to Prevent Child Abduction 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/childabduction/FLQSpring07Hoff.pdf 

Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act 

www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/child_abduction_prevention/ucapa_final_oct06.pdf 




PRESORTED STANDARD 

POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

DOJ/OJJDP/GPO 

PERMIT NO. G – 26 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 

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Laurel, MD 20707-4651 

Official Business 

Penalty for Private Use $300 

MAILING LABEL AREA (5” x 2”) 


DO NOT PRINT THIS AREA 


(INK NOR VARNISH)
 

NCJ 250606