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Wisconsin Kidnapping/Abduction Laws

According to Wisconsin law, Wis. Stat. § 940.31, a person committing crime of kidnapping is guilty of a Class C felony.  A person commits the crime of kidnapping if,

  • By force or threat of imminent force carries another from one place to another without his / her consent and with intent to secretly confine or imprison or to carry out of Wisconsin or hold to service against will.; or
  • By force or threat of imminent force seizes or confines another without his or her consent and with intent to cause him or her to secretly confine or imprison or to carry out of Wisconsin or hold to service against will; or
  • By deceit induces another to go from one place to another with intent to cause him or her to secretly confine or imprison or to carry out of Wisconsin or hold to service against will.

Elements of kidnapping is intention to secretly confine or imprison a person or to be carried out of Wisconsin or to be held to service against will[i]

Wisconsin law, Wis. Stat. § 939.50, provides punishment for a Class C felony. Kidnapping is punishable with a fine not exceeding 100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, or both. When kidnapping is done with the intent to cause another to transfer property in order to obtain the release of the victim then the offender is punishable with imprisonment not to exceed sixty years.

Wisconsin Department of Justice, division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigates crimes that are statewide in nature or importance.  DCI special agents work closely with local officials to investigate and prosecute crimes.

Wisconsin Department of Justice


[i] State v. Clement, 153 Wis. 2d 287, 291 (Wis. Ct. App. 1989)


Inside Wisconsin Kidnapping/Abduction Laws