AMBER ALERT Saves Children Nationwide

Any parents worst nightmare is child abduction. U.S. Department of Justice states 74 percent of children abducted and murdered were killed within three hours of being taken. Department of Transportation reports statistics that indicate that 91 percent of stranger abducted children are murdered in the first 24 hours after abduction (44 percent in the first hour). Quick response is critical, truly a matter of life or death. The Amber Alert Program has helped successfully recover over a dozen children since established in California in 2002. It has since been signed into law nationally by President Bush.

What is an Amber Alert?

Amber Alert sends immediate, up-to-the-minute information to aid in safe recovery, empowering law enforcement, the media and the public to combat child abduction so that the coordinated, comprehensive efforts are possible.

Amber Alert Activation Criteria

Law enforcement agencies ensure these conditions before activating Amber Alert:

• believes that an abduction has occurred.
• confirms victim is 17 or younger, or has a mental or physical disability.
• believes victim is in imminent danger of serious injury or death.
• gathersenough descriptive information that, if made public, could assist in safe recovery.
• that he child’s name and critical data elements have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

Amber Alert Guidelines

• Activated only by law enforcement.
• Intended only for serious, time-critical child abduction cases.
• Not intended for runaways or parental abduction, except if life-threatening.

Brief Amber Alert History

The program originated in 1996 in Texas when 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered. Texas created a system encouraging law enforcement agencies to alert the media and public immediately of confirmed child abductions.

California introduced the concept in 1999 as a regional program. In 2002 it was adopted statewide. It is now a national program.

Emergency Alert System

Amber Alert activates the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which pre-empts radio and television broadcasts providing information to the public immediately. The messages are preceded and concluded with alert tones.

Changeable Message Signs

Electronic changeable message signs (CMS) give real-time information to motorists. As part of the Amber Alert system, these signs can transmit information about a confirmed child abduction case. When it is truly a matter of life or death, the use of CMS in this way has been credited with the capture of the abductor and successful recovery of the abducted child(ren.)

What can the public do to help?

• If you witness a child abduction, contact local law enforcement or call 911 immediately! Provide information on the abduction and a description of the victim, the suspect, tattoos, and other potential identifiers and/or any vehicle involved.
• If you hear an Amber Alert, watch for the child, perpetrator and vehicle described in the alert. Immediately report sightings by calling 911 or the telephone number in the alert.
• Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) immediately at 800–843–5678

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMC)
800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678)
www.missingkids.com

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Amber Alert Publications Now Available from OJJDP:

Best Practices Guide for Public Information Officers
NCJ 212703
Best Practices Guide for Broadcasters and Other Media Outlets
NCJ 208481
(Spanish ver.)
Bringing Abducted Children Home
BC 000712
(Spanish ver.)
Effective Use of National Crime Information Center
FS 000308
(Spanish ver.)
U.S. Department of Justice Recommended AMBER Alert Criteria
LT000498
(Spanish ver.)

Missing Children Hotline
800-222-FIND (800-222-3463)

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