Is “Parental Alienation” a crime?
Yes. In many states, Parental Alienation is not only child abuse, but each act by a parent to alienate the other parent is also considered an act of domestic violence.
For example: In Colorado, according to C.R.S. § 18-6-401(7)(A)(V): “When a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child abuse results in any injury other than serious bodily injury, it is a class 1 misdemeanor…”; and according to C.R.S. § 18-6-701: “(1) Any person who induces, aids, or encourages a child to violate any federal or state law, municipal or county ordinance, or court order commits contributing to the delinquency of a minor. For the purposes of this section, the term “child” means any person under the age of eighteen years. (2) Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 4 felony.”
And according to C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3: “(1) “Domestic violence” means an act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. “Domestic violence” also includes any other crime against a person, or against property, including an animal, or any municipal ordinance violation against a person, or against property, including an animal, when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship.”
In Colorado, there are likely thousands of children who are victims of this form of child abuse, thousands of parents who victims of this form of domestic violence, and thousands of victims who have been deprived of their right to investigations by CPS and local law enforcement, their right to prosecution of the alienators to the fullest extent of the law, and their right to money damages for their injuries.
See more in Frequently Asked Questions.