Legal Definitions - Federal Kidnapping Act

The Federal Kidnapping Act is a federal law that punishes kidnapping for ransom or reward when the victim is transported across state lines or internationally. This law was created to close a dangerous loophole between state and federal law, as kidnappers were preying upon the wealthy with ruthless abandon, seizing their victims for ransom while operating outside the reach of existing state laws.

The law presumes that a victim has been transported in violation of the law if the victim is not released within 24 hours. However, the Federal Kidnapping Act does not apply to the kidnapping of a minor by either parent.

For example, if a kidnapper takes a victim from New York to New Jersey and demands a ransom, they can be charged under the Federal Kidnapping Act. However, if a parent takes their child from New York to New Jersey without the other parent's consent, they cannot be charged under this law.

The Federal Kidnapping Act, also known as the Lindbergh Act, covers every possible variety of kidnapping followed by interstate transportation. This law ensures that kidnappers cannot escape justice by crossing state lines with their victims.