Generally speaking, kidnapping is the taking of a person against their will from one place to another. It involves a situation in which the person taken does not have the freedom of movement, will or decision due to violence, force, threat or intimidation. Kidnapping could also be related to other charges including holding a person for ransom, sexual abuse or rape.
Kidnapping laws vary from state to state, and the punishments can differ depending on the circumstances of the case. Kidnapping charges must be taken very seriously, as they typically range from significant jail time to life in prison with high bail amounts -- or even no bail amounts. Moreover, they can lead to other serious charges that might lead to additional prison time and the possibility of lifetime registration as a violent or sexual offender.








