The research on parental abduction indicates that these incidents can be highly traumatic for both children and left-behind parents and that the longer the period of separation, the more damaging the impact is for the child and the left-behind parent. Parental abduction is a crime in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. However, for a variety of reasons, the criminal justice system’s response to these cases has historically been inadequate and sporadic. Improved education—for law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and the public-at-large—is needed to ensure a quicker and more effective response to the children and families affected by these crimes.