Yes. Parental kidnapping (also called custodial interference) is a crime in Rhode Island when a parent takes or keeps a child in violation of a custody order, court decree, or the other parent's lawful custodial rights. The charge can be a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the child was taken out of state, how long the child was held, and other factors. Federal charges under the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act can also apply when the child is taken across international borders. Defense work in parental kidnapping cases turns on the custody order specifics and whether the parent had a reasonable belief in their custodial right.
