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Office of the District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney

Child Abduction Unit of the Family Violence Division

The County of Santa Clara District Attorney's Child Abduction Unit (CAU) has been in operation for 26 years to bring children home who have been abducted by a parent or family member. California prosecutors are empowered to use both civil and criminal laws in child abduction and visitation violation cases.

The Child Abduction Unit (CAU) enforces custody orders for individuals who are residents of the County of Santa Clara at the time their custodial rights were violated. The CAU is comprised of a specially trained clerk, paralegal, investigators and an attorney.

The CAU's goal is the recovery of the minor child. Because the CAU may use civil and criminal laws to recover the child, the unit does not automatically file criminal charges against the abductor.

What should you do if your child is abducted?

Learn more about reporting a child abduction