Course: Introduction
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which is a national system for collecting and reporting crime statistics in the United States, defines kidnapping as the unlawful seizure, transportation, and/or detention of a person against his or her will, or of a minor without the consent of the minor’s custodial parent or guardian.
Under the UCR definition, kidnapping can include a wide range of actions, from physically moving a person a short distance against their will to taking them to a different location or across state lines to holding them for ransom or as part of another criminal activity. The key elements are that the person is taken or detained without their consent and that the act is unlawful.
It is important to note that the UCR definition of kidnapping may differ from the legal definition of kidnapping in certain states and that specific state laws may have additional or different requirements for a crime to be classified as kidnapping.
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Last Modified: 03/09/2023