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Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the AMBER Plan created?
The AMBER Plan was created in 1997 as a powerful legacy to 9-year-old
Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and brutally murdered while riding her
bicycle in Arlington, Texas.
The tragedy shocked and outraged the entire community. Residents contacted
radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested they broadcast special
“alerts” over the airwaves so they could help prevent such
incidents in the future.
The next year local law enforcement and broadcasters created the AMBER
Plan in Amber Hagerman’s honor. The AMBER Plan, also known as America’s
Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan, is a program in which broadcasters
and transportation authorities immediately distribute information about
recent child abductions to the public, enabling the entire community to
assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.
What began as a local effort in Dallas, Texas, has grown into a seamless
system of AMBER Alert programs across the country, each year saving the
lives of abducted children.
How do AMBER Alerts work?
Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they must
first determine if the case meets the recommended criteria from the U.S.
Department of Justice for activating an alert. Guidance
on Criteria for Issuing AMBER Alerts (PDF)
- There is reasonable belief by law enforcement an abduction has occurred
- The abduction is of a child age 17 years or younger
- The law-enforcement agency believes the child is in imminent danger
of serious bodily injury or death
- There is enough descriptive information about the victim and abduction
for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery
of the child
- The child’s name and other critical data elements, including
the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) computer
If these criteria are met, alert information must be put together for
public distribution. This information may include descriptions and pictures
of the missing child, the suspected abductor, and a suspected vehicle
along with any other information available and valuable to identifying
the child and suspect.
The information is then faxed to radio stations designated as primary
stations under the EAS. The primary stations send the same information
to area radio and television stations and cable systems via the EAS, and
participating stations immediately broadcast the information to millions
of listeners. Radio stations interrupt programming to announce the Alert,
and television stations and cable systems run a “crawl” on
the screen along with a picture of the child.
Some states are also incorporating electronic highway billboards in their
AMBER Plans. The billboards, typically used to disseminate traffic information
to drivers, now alert the public of abducted children by displaying pertinent
information about the child, abductor, or suspected vehicle that drivers
might look for on highways.
What should I do when an AMBER Alert is issued?
The AMBER Alert message encourages the public to look for the missing
child or suspect. You become the eyes and ears of local law enforcement.
In the event you spot a child, adult, or vehicle fitting the AMBER Alert
description, immediately call the telephone number given in the AMBER
Alert and provide authorities with as much information as you know.
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