From the NEIGHBORHOOD GUARDIAN:

From the San Jose Police Dept. 'CHILD SAFETY HANDBOOK'  San Jose,Ca.

                   Parental Child Stealing Prevention
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

     If there are serious difficulties between you and your
 spouse, your first consideration is to obtain legal custody of your child/
 children. Once you have legal custody, obtain a passport for
 your child/children and notify the Passport Office that your child/children 
 should not be taken out of the country without your written permission.

 - This is a profile of potential abductors which may be helpful:

   1. Impulsive, erratic or easily angered.

   2. Hostile, revengeful, abusive.

   3. Spouse or ex-spouse has skills which can support him/her while
      moving about to avoid detection or there is someone who would
      support him/her economically.

   4. If the spouse or ex-spouse is threatening to abduct, have the
      threats witnessed or tape-recorded.


 - COURT-ORDERED DETERRENTS:

   1. Parent with visitation can be ordered to post a sizable bond.

   2. Make sure that your custody order details police procedure. If the 
   order is violated, the police have specific authorization from the court 
   to retrieve the child if necessary. This precaution makes it clear to the 
   police that they can and must legally help you.


   - Know and maintain current and vital information about your spouse or 
     ex-spouse, such as social security number, drivers license number, credit 
     information, financial records as well as a list of relatives and friends.
   - Do not withhold or unfairly manipulate the ex-spouses visitation times  
     if he/she is behaving responsibly in accordance with the custody/visit-
     ation agreement.
   - Attempt to maintain a friendly, or at least civil, relationship with 
     your ex-spouse for the well-being of your child/children and all parties 
     concerned.
   - If your child/children is of school age or attends a day care center or
     camp, etc.(including babysitters) take a certified copy of your custody 
     order with a photo of the non-custodial parent to the school adminis-
     trator. Explain exactly who is allowed to take the child/children from 
     school. Inform all others in school as well.

   - Talk with your child often. Teach him/her what to do in case of an 
     abduction. Tell him/her often that you will always want them and that 
     unless he/she has attended your funeral and has *seen* that you have 
     died, that you are ALIVE and SEARCHING for him/her.
      
      ====================================================================
             From the San Jose Police Dept. 'Child Safety Handbook' 
                               San Jose, Ca.


 
 edited by: 
 
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