Legal Definitions - abduction

Abduction is when someone takes another person without their permission. This can happen in different ways, like tricking them, using force, or lying to them. It is a crime and can have serious consequences.

There are different types of abduction. For example, if someone takes a child away from their parents, it is called child abduction. If someone takes an older person who needs help, it is called abduction of a dependent adult. If a parent takes their child away from the other parent during a custody battle, it is called parental abduction.

Abduction is different from kidnapping because kidnapping involves using force or threatening to use force. Abduction can happen without force.

For example, if someone pretends to be a police officer and tells someone to get in their car, that is abduction. Another example is if someone lies to a person and tells them they won a prize, but they have to come with them to claim it. If the person goes with them and they are taken somewhere against their will, that is also abduction.