NCJ Number
183369
Date Published
March 2000
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This review focused on problems with the Federal Government's response to international parental child abductions that were widely recognized and reported by the Federal Government and "left-behind" parents.
Abstract
To obtain information for this analysis, researchers interviewed over 30 key officials and representatives from the State and Justice Departments, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the California State Attorney General's office. Individual cases were discussed with five U.S. "left-behind" parents. Problems identified include the need for more systematic diplomatic efforts to work with foreign governments in resolving problems of noncompliance with the Hague Convention and the lack of services, such as financial assistance and counseling to "left-behind" parents. Interviewees also cited weaknesses in the State Department's system for tracking and managing child abduction cases. Together, these problems create obstacles to "left-behind" parents in their attempts to locate, gain access to, and secure the return of their children. The Justice Department's use of the 1993 International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act has been limited. Since 1993 the Justice Department has indicted 62 parents under the act and obtained 13 convictions. "Left-behind" parents believe the Justice Department has not used this law sufficiently to prosecute parents who abduct children from the United States. This report recommends that the State and Justice Departments jointly develop a more detailed action plan for implementing their proposed actions. Such a plan should include measurable goals, detailed objectives, milestones for completion, and required resources, as well as a mechanism for periodically assessing the effectiveness of the Federal response to various problems. 3 tables and appended list of party countries to the Hague Convention and comments from the Departments of State and Justice