A

A number of jurisdictions have recognized that, in the absence of a court order awarding custody to another, a parent cannot be convicted of abduction and other similar crimes by taking exclusive custody of his or her child. See, e.g., State v. Stocksdale, 138 N.J. Super. 312, 350 A.2d 539, 541 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. 1975) (recognizing that, because 'each parent has an equal right to custody of a child in the absence of a court order, a parent does not commit the crime of kidnapping by taking exclusive possession of the child where no such order exists. '). See also William ...