Perspectives on Parents Who Abduct Their Children: Windows on a Limited Sample

• NCJ Number: 157159
• Author(s): G L Grief; R L Hegar
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 132 pages
• Contract Number(s): OJP-92-196M
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; University of Maryland at Baltimore
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study used data collected from 17 parents who had abducted their children during custody disagreements in order to identify histories, motivations, location-related factors, and current life situations of the study participants.

Abstract

The interview responses showed that the vast majority of parental abductors do not feel guilty and almost half said they would abduct their children again under similar circumstances. A typology of parental abductors, based on the two factors of whether the marital relationship had involved violence and custody status at the time of abduction, was useful in understanding abductors. Results of psychological tests were not significant predictors of parental abduction. Many abductors justified their actions on the grounds that they had tried to process the case through the court and professional service systems prior to taking this drastic measure. One way to prevent parental abductions may be to establish special programs for parents embroiled in difficult custody agreements. This document includes case studies.