Parental Abduction (Academic Resources)
Title: Intersection between Domestic Violence and International Parental Child Abduction: Protection of Abducting Mothers in Return Proceedings
Publication: International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family
Authors: Katarina Trimmings, Onyója Momoh
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/lawfam/ebab001
Summary: This article explores the connection between domestic violence and parental child abduction. It focuses on how courts interpret the “grave risk of harm” defense in cases involving allegations of domestic violence and the protection of abducting mothers in return proceedings. The article is divided into two parts: one examines the courts’ approach to the grave risk of harm exception, and the other discusses protective measures, such as undertakings, in child abduction cases with domestic violence allegations.
Family Reunion Comment: This article teaches us that child abduction can be intertwined with issues of domestic violence. It highlights the challenges courts face when determining the risk of harm to the child in cases involving allegations of domestic violence. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of implementing effective protective measures in child abduction cases, especially when domestic violence is involved. The article also underscores the significance of international cooperation and regulations in addressing child abduction cases across borders.
Title: International Child Abduction: The Complexities of Forensic Psychiatric Assessments Before the Hague Convention
Publication: Frontiers in psychiatry
Authors: Mitesh Patel, Shawn Baldeo, Pip Swartz, and Graham Glancy
Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.654634
Summary: This article explores the role of forensic psychiatrists in cases of international child abduction governed by the Hague Convention. The Hague Convention aims to return abducted children to their lawful parents, but exceptions are made if the child would be harmed. Forensic psychiatrists provide expert opinions on potential harm and other legal issues. The article discusses the importance of these assessments in understanding the child’s perspective, diagnosing mental health conditions, and providing recommendations. Two case examples highlight the complexities involved. Overall, the article emphasizes the need for direct assessment of the child and competent mental health professionals in these cases.
Family Reunion Comment: This article highlights the complexity of child abduction cases and the role of the Hague Convention in facilitating the return of abducted children. It emphasizes the importance of assessing potential harm to the child and involving forensic psychiatrists to provide expert opinions.
Title: The Consequences of Parental Abduction: A Pilot Study With a Retrospective View From the Victim (published in 2013)
Publication: The Family Journal
Authors: Mary Jo L. Gibbs, W. Paul Jones, Shannon D. Smith, Pamela A. Staples, Gerald R. Weeks
Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480713476842
Summary: This pilot study focused on parental abductions and aimed to gain insights into the psychological consequences experienced by the victims upon their return home. Thirteen individuals participated in the study and were interviewed through phone interviews using a questionnaire. The study identified several effects reported by the abductees, including loss of trust in the opposite sex, difficulties in forming and maintaining friendships, a sense of disconnection from reality, impaired memory of the abduction, and difficulties with sleep and concentration. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impact of parental abductions, providing valuable information for mental health professionals to support and assist the victims.
Family Reunion Comment: This study on parental abductions provides important insights into the psychological consequences experienced by victims upon their return home. It highlights the significant impact on various aspects of their lives, including trust, relationships, cognition, and emotional well-being. The findings emphasize the need for support and intervention for victims of child abduction to address the challenges they face in rebuilding their lives. It underscores the importance of mental health professionals in providing appropriate care and assistance to help victims recover and cope with the traumatic experiences associated with child abduction.
Title: Parental Child Abduction: A Literature Review
Publication: The Police Journal
Authors: Ludwig Fred Lowenstein
Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X0207500
Summary: This study focuses on different aspects related to parental child abduction. It examines the distinctions between parental abductions and stranger abductions, explores the causes and associated features of parent abductions, and examines the short and long-term reactions of children who have been abducted by a parent. The study also looks into the characteristics of parents who commit abductions and discusses risk assessments to identify parents at risk of abducting their children. Additionally, it addresses the prevention of abductions and the treatment of children who have experienced parental abduction.
Family Reunion Comment: This study provides insights into parental child abduction, including the causes, impact on children, characteristics of abducting parents, risk assessments, prevention strategies, and treatment approaches. It enhances our understanding of this complex issue and emphasizes the importance of protecting children and supporting their well-being in cases of parental abduction.
Title: Cross-Border Parental Child Abduction in the European Union: Hearing the Child’s Voice
Publication: Master in European and Global Law
Authors: Elodie Fernandes
Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10230/55332
Summary: This paper focuses on cross-border parental child abduction within the European Union and highlights the importance of considering the child’s perspective in such cases. While society often sympathizes with the left-behind parent, the paper emphasizes that the child is the primary victim of parental abduction. The aim of the paper is to explore methods for gathering the child’s opinion during the legal procedure and to assess how this input can be taken into consideration by the judge.
Family Reunion Comment: This paper teaches us that child abduction, particularly cross-border parental child abduction, has significant consequences for the child involved. It emphasizes the importance of considering the child’s perspective in legal proceedings and decision-making processes
Title: The Impact on Children of Abduction by Parents
Publication: Journal of Divorce
Authors: Michael W. Agopian
Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/45389619
Summary: This study examined the effects of parental abduction on children. It found that children who are abducted by a parent may experience a range of emotional and behavioral problems, such as anxiety, depression, and aggression. The study also suggests that the effects of abduction may vary depending on the child’s age, gender, and the length of time they were separated from the left-behind parent.
Title: Family Abduction in a national sample of US Children
Publication: Elsevier
Authors: David Finkelhor, Megan Henly, Heather Turner, Sherry Hamby
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213416302599?via%3Dihub
Summary: This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of family abduction episodes occurring in a nationally representative sample of US children ages 0–17. It drew on the experiences of 13,052 children and youth from the aggregation of three cross-sectional waves (2008, 2011, and 2014) of the National Surveys of Children Exposed to Violence. The experience of a lifetime family abduction had an independent association with traumatic stress symptoms independent of exposure to other kinds of victimization including child maltreatment and witnessing family violence.
Family Reunion Comment: When a child is abducted, it is likely that they are taken by a family member as compared to a stranger. The experience of child abduction by a family member has associations with traumatic stress symptoms and exposure to victimization such as child maltreatment and family violence.
Title: Early Identification of Risk Factors for Parental Abduction
Publication: U.S. Department of Justice
Authors: Janet R. Johnston, Inger Sagatun-Edwards, Martha-Elin Blomquist, Linda K. Girdner
Summary: Custody laws vary from State to State, abducting one’s own child is a crime in every state. If a parent, guardian, or other family member takes a child from a parent with custody or visitation rights, they have committed a crime. Children who have experienced parental abduction may have likely been exposed to neglect and abuse in their home and/or witnessed conflict between parents.
Family Reunion Comment: Based on custody laws, parental abductions are a crime in every state. They are a violation of custody and visitation rights. The majority of children in situations such as these may have experienced neglect/abuse in their home and/or witnessed conflict between parents prior to the parental abduction occurring.
Title: The Long-term Impact of Parental Abduction on Children: Implications for Treatment
Publication: Sage Journals
Authors: Geoffrey L. Grief, DSW
Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/009318539802600103?journalCode=plxa
Summary: Parental abduction is believed to exact a significant emotional cost on the children of such actions. This article examines the change in children that occurs at two different time periods following the children’s return to their searching parents. It’s a follow-up to an earlier article published in this journal. The long-term impact on children being victims of abduction is also discussed. Implications for therapists treating these children and their parents are also included.
Title: Medical-Legal and Psychosocial Considerations on Parental Alienation as a Form of Child Abuse: A Brief Review
Publication: MDPI
Authors: Oana-Maria Isailă, Sorin Hostiuc
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9223241/pdf/healthcare-10-01134.pdf
Summary: Parental alienation still represents a controversial concept despite the legal dispositions that take it into account. The purpose of this paper is to consider the relationship between parent and child, and child abuse from a psychosocial perspective, as well as to depict parental alienation, considered a form of child abuse, without omitting contradictory arguments which are also based on prudence in the minor’s interest, turning the attention to parental estrangement. Although parental alienation is not a psychiatric diagnosis per se and neither is parental estrangement, recognizing the difference between them is vital to adequately manage the situation at the time of establishing custody.
Family Reunion Comment: Parental alienation is a form of child abuse. Although parental alienation is no actual psychiatric diagnosis, it still affects the individual who experienced it. Parental alienation and parental estrangement are two very different instances and it’s important to understand the difference between both.