The Movement Of Kidnapping And False Conviction

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Individuals may take a person with good intentions, only to find they are now charged with kidnapping. For example, a person may come across a friend drunk at a party and take them to their residence to ensure they are not taken advantage of when they are intoxicated. Although this is an unusual example of when a person may be charged with kidnapping, it shows the confusion surrounding this type of charge. Kidnapping can be defined as one person taking another person by threat or force and also includes instances where deception is used to hold a person against their will. What do individuals need to know about charges of this type? Washtenaw County criminal defense attorneys explain what individuals must know in this situation.

Movement Of …show more content…

The problem that arises in this situation is there is no clear cut guideline regarding how movement or what type of movement constitutes kidnapping, as opposed to false imprisonment. Some courts state any movement constitutes kidnapping, yet others require the victim show the movement was substantial in order for the charge of kidnapping to be allowed. Otherwise, it is a case of false imprisonment, which comes with fewer penalties. A criminal defense lawyer in Ann Arbor can be of assistance in determining which is the case in any situation.

Confinement Of The Victim

In addition, the matter in which the victim was confined comes into play when determining if it is a case of false imprisonment or kidnapping. This also varies by jurisdiction, although most do concur that any force or threat of force used during the incident is enough to obtain a conviction. Certain jurisdictions, however, state that confinement that occurs as a result of deception is adequate for a conviction.

A Guilty …show more content…

What people need to understand, however, is there is a separate offense for what is referred to as aggravated kidnapping. In this situation, a person is kidnapped specifically for the purpose of extortion or to obtain a ransom. In these cases, the penalty will be more severe. In contrast, certain jurisdictions impose a lesser penalty when mitigating circumstances are present, such as when a victim is released by the kidnapper unharmed. The problem with this is victims will likely suffer emotional consequences of the actions of the kidnapper, thus this becomes more difficult to determine because every victim would be harmed in this manner, simply by the act. Contact a Ann Arbor felony defense lawyer to learn more about the law in a given area and how it pertains to the circumstances of the pending

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