Federal Kidnapping Act
Encyclopedia
Following the historic Lindbergh kidnapping
(the abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh
's toddler son), the United States Congress
adopted a federal kidnapping statute—popularly known as the Federal Kidnapping Act (a)(1) (also known as the Lindbergh Law, or Little Lindbergh Law) — which was intended to let federal authorities step in and pursue kidnappers once they had crossed state lines with their victim.
The theory behind the Lindbergh Law was that federal law enforcement intervention was necessary because state and local law enforcement officers could not effectively pursue kidnapper
s across state lines. Since federal law enforcement, such as FBI agents, have national law enforcement authority, Congress believed they could do a much more effective job of dealing with kidnappings than could state, county, and local authorities.
Several states implemented their own versions of this law, known as "Little Lindbergh" laws, covering acts of kidnapping
that did not cross state lines. In some states, if the victim was physically harmed in any manner, the crime qualified for capital punishment
. This was what occurred in the Caryl Chessman
case in California. Following the death penalty law revisions by the United States Supreme Court during the 1970s, kidnapping alone no longer constitutes a capital offense.
A provision of the law provides exception for parents who abduct their own minor children. (Also see United States v. Sheek).
Lindbergh kidnapping
The kidnapping of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was the abduction of the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The toddler, 18 months old at the time, was abducted from his family home in East Amwell, New Jersey, near the town of Hopewell, New Jersey, on the evening of...
(the abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's toddler son), the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
adopted a federal kidnapping statute—popularly known as the Federal Kidnapping Act (a)(1) (also known as the Lindbergh Law, or Little Lindbergh Law) — which was intended to let federal authorities step in and pursue kidnappers once they had crossed state lines with their victim.
The theory behind the Lindbergh Law was that federal law enforcement intervention was necessary because state and local law enforcement officers could not effectively pursue kidnapper
Kidnapper
Kidnapper may refer to:* Kidnapper , a film by Kelvin Tong* "Kidnapper" , by American band Blondie on the Plastic Letters album* A person who performs a kidnapping-See also:* Kidnapped * Kidnapping...
s across state lines. Since federal law enforcement, such as FBI agents, have national law enforcement authority, Congress believed they could do a much more effective job of dealing with kidnappings than could state, county, and local authorities.
Several states implemented their own versions of this law, known as "Little Lindbergh" laws, covering acts of kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
that did not cross state lines. In some states, if the victim was physically harmed in any manner, the crime qualified for capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
. This was what occurred in the Caryl Chessman
Caryl Chessman
Caryl Whittier Chessman was a convicted robber and rapist who gained fame as a death row inmate in California. Chessman's case attracted worldwide attention, and as a result he became a cause célèbre for the movement to ban capital punishment.-Crime and conviction:Born in St...
case in California. Following the death penalty law revisions by the United States Supreme Court during the 1970s, kidnapping alone no longer constitutes a capital offense.
A provision of the law provides exception for parents who abduct their own minor children. (Also see United States v. Sheek).