Kidnapping charges typically occur whenever a person is taken against their will, transported to a location they do not consent to and held against their will. Kidnapping does not just apply to children, although the term abduction is more often used with adult victims. Typically kidnapping is done for ransom or some other form of coercion, extortion or for revenge. Often kidnapping is done to convince anther person to commit an act they would not otherwise do. However, not all kidnapping is by strangers or people unknown to the victim. Using a hostage as a shield in any fashion is also considered kidnapping under the law. Parental kidnapping occurs when a parent without legal custody or access to their own biological child removes the child from his or her legal residence. In these cases it doesn't matter if the child gave consent, it is still considered kidnapping. Parental kidnapping or kidnapping by a family member is the most common from of kidnapping in the United States.