What is kidnapping

You can terrify this woman with the thunders of the law if she persists in kidnap ping children that don't belong to her. As a matter of course, the talk jumped first to the mysterious hold-up and kidnap ping and the reason why. I told her I was, and then she came around to the kidnap ping business again of her own accord.

They've asked me to work out that kidnap ping case in New Orleans—the Loutois child. New Word List Word List. Save This Word! See synonyms for kidnap on Thesaurus.

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms. Words related to kidnap capture , hijack , seize , snatch , steal , coax , decoy , entice , grab , impress , inveigh , lure , pirate , remove , seduce , shanghai , skyjack , waylay , bundle off , carry away.

In other states, confinement is the key element, and any intentional confinement, taking, or restraint is a kidnapping. However, even in states that require the intent to commit further crimes, it isn't necessary that those crimes to actually take place.

It's enough for the accused to commit the unlawful taking with the specified intent, even if the kidnapper's goals are never achieved. Movement of the victim. Some states require that the kidnapping victim must be moved for a substantial distance, though the actual distance required can be very minimal. For example, moving a victim from one house to another house across the street or from a car into a nearby structure is enough, though movement from one room of a house to another may not be.

Other states do not require movement of the victim to charge an offender with kidnapping. Force and threats. In some states, it isn't necessary for a person to use force to commit a kidnapping, while other states require that some force must be used before confinement can be considered a kidnapping.

Using the threat of violence or other threats that might instill fear is also considered a use of force. A kidnapping cannot occur if the victim consents to the confinement. If a person, such as a child or a person with cognitive disabilities, is unable to grant legal consent, a kidnapping can occur if the person is taken without the consent of the parent or legal guardian.

Kidnapping degrees. Some state laws separate kidnapping into offenses of different degrees or levels of severity. For example, a charge of first-degree kidnapping, sometimes known as aggravated kidnapping, usually requires that the accused kidnapper either physically harm, sexually assault , or expose the victim to serious risk of harm during the course of the kidnapping.

A second-degree kidnapping does not involve sexual or violent assault or exposing the victim to harm. Kidnapping Laws and Penalties Kidnapping is a very serious charge that brings significant penalties.

Kidnapping convictions can result in lengthy prison sentences, including life sentences in some situations and states. Sentences of 20 years or more are common for first-degree or aggravated kidnapping, while minimum sentences of five years or more are common for second-degree kidnapping. Fines for kidnapping offenses are substantial and are imposed in addition to prison sentences. Browse kiddie. Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes. Image credits. Word of the Day have a heart of gold.

Blog Outsets and onsets! Read More. November 08, To top. English American Translations. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge. Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans.