What is Famiy Abduction?

I've been reading some comments about the Holly Ann Collins Family Abduction case and it occurred to me that most people have very little knowledge about this horrible crime against children. Here are several links:

http://www.stopfamilyabductionsnow.org/about_abduction.html
(Stop Family Abductions Now is part of the Polly Klass Organization.)

What is Family Abduction?

Family abduction happens when a family member, usually a parent, kidnaps and conceals a child for any length of time. It is a serious crime that happens to over 203,000 families a year and yet it is not even considered a felony in every state. The emotional, psychological and physical impact on children is often so significant that family abduction is considered a form of child endangerment.

While education is the first step to take on this national problem, we've also got some great next steps you can take to protect kids from the trauma of family abduction by telling your legislators to help pass laws that will help prevent family abductions across the country. Click here to take action today!

Five Things You Might Not Know About Family Abductions

1. Each year, over 203,000 children (78% of all missing children!) in the U.S. are abducted by a family member, usually a parent.
2. The biggest motive for family abduction is revenge against another parent, not the child's safety.
3. More than half of abducting parents have a history of violent behavior, a criminal record, or a substance abuse problem.
4. Children abducted by family members often suffer severe lifelong emotional and psychological damage.
5. Nearly 70% of law enforcement agencies do not have a written policy on how to respond to a family abduction.

Family Abduction Booklet for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - A must read for the Domestic Violence and the Family Violence Volunteers and Community Members.

http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=467