Which statement best defines kidnapping?

• A. False imprisonment that conceals the victim in a secret place
• B. Abduction without concealment
• C. Detention without concealment
• D. Abduction with consent

Answer: (A)

Kidnapping involves unlawfully restraining or moving a person against their will, typically by asportation or concealment. The statement that best defines this crime highlights false imprisonment paired with concealment of the victim in a secret place. Concealing the victim demonstrates the necessary act of moving or hiding the person to prevent discovery, which aligns with how many jurisdictions view kidnapping: an unlawful restraint that includes some form of concealment or movement to a different location.

Why the other formulations don’t fit as well: describing the act without concealment omits the concealment/asportation element some definitions require, which weakens the characterization of kidnapping. Detention without concealment describes false imprisonment but lacks the aspect that makes it kidnapping in jurisdictions that require movement or concealment. Abduction with consent cannot be kidnapping because the victim’s consent defeats the wrongful element.