# Justice Manual § 9-74.200: International Parental Kidnapping

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.200

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-74.200
- **Heading:** International Parental Kidnapping
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-74.000 - Child Support And International Parental Kidnapping / Justice Manual § 9-74.200

## Text

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1204, enacted in 1993, makes it an offense to remove a child who has been in the United States from the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. Such an offense is punishable by a fine under Title 18, imprisonment for not more than three years, or both.

Consultation with the Office of International Affairs is appropriate to determine the possibility for extradition in advance of charging.  Additionally, consultation with the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues is appropriate to determine the possible impact that initiating a prosecution may have on the return of the child pursuant to Hague Convention remedies.

[cited in
JM 9-69.421
] [updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-74.010 Supervisory Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-74.100 Federal Enforcement of Child Support](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-74.105 Child Support—Notice to Target and Charging Considerations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.105.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-74.200 International Parental Kidnapping](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.200.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-74.200. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.