My name is Rhoda. I can't vote, run for office, posses a gun, or hold certain jobs. I have been denied many of my basic human rights. My crime was to take my young daughter to my home, (I lived out of state and there was no court order against traveling out of state), to a doctor in my home town. I believed she was being abused by her step-mother. I did nothing wrong. I even stopped at a local police station to ask directions to the clinic.

  The doctor that examined my daughter agreed with my fears and told me to take her to another facility that was better equipped to evaluate and care for her. We went home to collect ourselves a little, this was extremely difficult. As we were leaving my home a police officer asked me for directions, it turned out he was looking for me!!!! He apologized as he handcuffed me and put me into his patrol car. He assured me we would get this all straightened out at the police station, but he had to follow procedures. I was charged with kidnapping my own daughter 6 hours before she even had to be back at her father's. I was in violation of no court order. I had never even had a speeding ticket before. The local police had qualified personnel and evaluated my daughter while she was there. They agreed the abuse concern was valid and required investigation. I have documentation for everything I am telling.

  I was held in jail for 7 days with 8 other women, charged with everything up to and including murder. It was the most traumatic event in my life!!!

  No documentation, witness, or evidence of any kind was allowed from out of state. Out of fear for a lengthy sentence, (this was the same kidnapping charge as if a stranger breaks into your house and forcibly takes your child), I plead guilty and received 6 months house arrest and 5 years probation. I am now a convicted felon.

  6 months after this happened my ex-husband tired of the task of caring for my daughter and let me have full custody of her.

  My name is Rhoda. I can't vote, run for office, posses a gun, or hold certain jobs. I have been denied many of my basic human rights. My crime was to take my young daughter to my home, (I lived out of state and there was no court order against traveling out of state), to a doctor in my home town. I believed she was being abused by her step-mother. I did nothing wrong. I even stopped at a local police station to ask directions to the clinic.

  The doctor that examined my daughter agreed with my fears and told me to take her to another facility that was better equipped to evaluate and care for her. We went home to collect ourselves a little, this was extremely difficult. As we were leaving my home a police officer asked me for directions, it turned out he was looking for me!!!! He apologized as he handcuffed me and put me into his patrol car. He assured me we would get this all straightened out at the police station, but he had to follow procedures. I was charged with kidnapping my own daughter 6 hours before she even had to be back at her father's. I was in violation of no court order. I had never even had a speeding ticket before. The local police had qualified personnel and evaluated my daughter while she was there. They agreed the abuse concern was valid and required investigation. I have documentation for everything I am telling.

  I was held in jail for 7 days with 8 other women, charged with everything up to and including murder. It was the most traumatic event in my life!!!

  No documentation, witness, or evidence of any kind was allowed from out of state. Out of fear for a lengthy sentence, (this was the same kidnapping charge as if a stranger breaks into your house and forcibly takes your child), I plead guilty and received 6 months house arrest and 5 years probation. I am now a convicted felon.

  6 months after this happened my ex-husband tired of the task of caring for my daughter and let me have full custody of her.