Law enforcement-your inaction is costing you DOLLARS
Ohio Laws on Interference With Custody
Ohio Revised Code § 2919.23 – Interference with Custody
It is a criminal offense in Ohio to:
Knowingly take, entice, keep, or harbor a minor from their legal guardian or custodial parent without legal privilege to do so.
Violate a court custody order or parenting time agreement.
Penalties:
First offense: Generally a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine)
If the offender takes the child out of the state or has a prior conviction: It becomes a fifth-degree felony
If the act poses a risk of serious harm to the child: The charge may escalate to third- or fourth-degree felony
Examples of Custody Interference That Qualify Under Ohio Law:
• Refusing to exchange the child during scheduled parenting time
• Blocking communication or contact with the other parent
• Taking the child out of school or daycare without permission
• Coaching the child to lie to authorities
• Hiding the child from the other parent
• Refusing court-ordered visitation or falsely claiming the child is unsafe without evidence
Law Enforcement’s Role:
Police can and should enforce custody orders if:
• A court order exists outlining parenting time
• A parent is actively denying access in violation of that order
• The interference meets the criminal definition of ORC 2919.23
Police can:
• Take reports
• Conduct welfare checks
• Document violations
• Refer cases for criminal prosecution
• In some cases, charge the interfering parent on the spot
The Real Cost of Police Inaction
Every time law enforcement refuses to act on custody interference, here’s what it sets in motion:
1. Bankrupted Parents = Shrinking Tax Revenue
• Victimized parents may lose jobs due to mental trauma or court overload
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression lead to medical leaves, disability filings, and unemployment
• They pay fewer taxes, lowering revenue that funds police salaries, pensions, and benefits
2. Longer Court Cases = More Public Expense
• Delayed justice leads to:
• More court time
• More filings
• More hearings
• More mental health services for affected children and parents
Taxpayer-funded courts and public systems get overloaded
Budgets get strained
Wages for public servants stagnate
3. Traumatized Children = Higher Crime and School Failure Rates
• Children cut off from a safe parent often:
• Act out in school
• Drop in academic performance
• Struggle emotionally and socially
• Are more likely to become juvenile offenders
Law enforcement ends up dealing with the downstream crisis that could have been prevented by upholding a simple court order.
Law Enforcement Must Enforce the Law—Not Just Suggest Mediation
If law enforcement turns away protective parents and says, “That’s a civil matter,” when a criminal statute is being broken, they are failing their oath and helping destroy the very communities they are sworn to protect.
ORC 2919.23 is enforceable.
Failing to enforce it undermines the rule of law.
It also undermines your own paycheck.
