Kidnapping is the crime of taking a person against their will to an undisclosed location. This may be done for ransom or in furtherance of another crime, or in connection with a child custody dispute. Nebraska laws classify kidnapping into two categories: first degree and second degree. According to Nebraska Laws, R.R.S. Neb. § 28-313, a person commits kidnapping if s/he abducts another or, having abducted another, continues to restrain him or her with intent to do the following:
- Hold him or her for ransom or reward; or
- Use him or her as a shield or hostage; or
- Terrorize him or her or a third person; or
- Commit a felony; or
- Interfere with the performance of any government or political function.
Kidnapping is a Class I felony. However, if the person kidnapped is voluntarily released or liberated alive by the abductor and is in a safe place without having suffered serious bodily injury, prior to trial, kidnapping is a Class II felony[i]. For purposes of the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, abduction means the wrongful removal or wrongful retention of a child[ii].
The Nebraska State Patrol serves as a central repository for information on missing persons to include missing children. The information is collected and disseminated to assist law enforcement agencies, public and private organizations and the citizens of Nebraska in locating missing persons.
[i] R.R.S. Neb. § 28-313
[ii] R.R.S. Neb. § 43-3902
