Amber Alert
In the
USA an
Amber alert is a notification to the general public by commercial
radio, broadcast
television,
e-mail, or
electronic traffic-condition signs, regarding a confirmed
abduction of a child. The decision to declare an Amber alert is made by the
law-enforcement organization investigating the abduction. Public information in an amber alert usually consists of the name and description of the abductee, the description of the suspected abductor, and the description and
license plate number of the suspect vehicle (if available).
The Amber Alert is named after 9 year old Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in 1996 near Dallas, Texas. As a result of this tragedy, local law enforcement agencies and broadcast media formed a voluntary association whereby information about a child abduction could be quickly broadcast to the child's community and the community could help look for the abducted child.
Although each regional Amber Alert sets the criteria for activation, most alerts follow guidelines similar to the Houston Regional Amber Plan (http://www.amber-plan.net) which are:
- 1. The missing child must be 17 years of age or younger and the law enforcement agency believes the child has been abducted (unwillingly taken from their environment without permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian).
- 2. The agency believes the missing child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
- 3. A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the abduction or eliminated alternative explanations.
- 4. Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child, suspect, and/or the suspect’s vehicle.
See also