The Lindbergh Law

Following the historic Lindbergh baby kidnapping (the abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh's toddler son), Congress passed the Federal Kidnapping Act, (popularly known as the Lindbergh Law). The Lindbergh Law made kidnapping across state lines a federal crime. In 1934, the act was amended to provide an exception for parents who kidnap their own children and made a death sentence possible in cases where the victim was not released unharmed. The Lindbergh Law was enacted with the intention of allowing federal authorities to pursue kidnappers once they had crossed state lines with their victim, rather than local law enforcement agents.