Kidnapping

Kidnapping is broadly defined as the taking and holding of another person against their will. The term kidnap comes from the slang terms kid, for “child,” and nab, which means “to steal.” Kidnapping used to apply only to child abductions but is now used to describe abductions of both children and adults. The legal definition of kidnapping differs depending on state statutes, federal law, or a foreign jurisdiction's legal code. Kidnapping may involve a demand for ransom (holding a person against his or her will until financial, political, social, or ideological demands are met), the use of force or fraud, or relatives or nonfamily members. From the present day to the past, the crime affects everyone equally, from slaves to kings, infants to adults, and ...