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From the US Dept of Justice -

Guidelines for Issuing AMBER Alerts

Every successful AMBER plan contains clearly defined activation criteria. The following guidance is designed to achieve a uniform, interoperable network of plans across the country, and to minimize potentially deadly delays because of confusion among varying jurisdictions. The following are criteria recommendations:

Law Enforcement Confirms an AbductionAMBER plans require law enforcement to confirm an abduction prior to issuing an alert. This is essential when determining the level of risk to the child. Clearly, stranger abductions are the most dangerous for children and thus are primary to the mission of an AMBER Alert. To allow activations in the absence of significant information that an abduction has occurred could lead to abuse of the system and ultimately weaken its effectiveness. At the same time, each case must be appraised on its own merits and a judgment call made quickly. Law enforcement must understand that a "best judgment" approach, based on the evidence, is appropriate and necessary. Risk of Serious Bodily Injury or DeathPlans require a child be at risk for serious bodily harm or death before an alert can be issued. This element is clearly related to law enforcement's recognition that stranger abductions represent the greatest danger to children. The need for timely, accurate information based on strict and clearly understood criteria is critical, again keeping in mind the "best judgment" approach. Sufficient Descriptive InformationFor an AMBER Alert to be effective in recovering a missing child, the law enforcement agency must have enough information to believe that an immediate broadcast to the public will enhance the efforts of law enforcement to locate the child and apprehend the suspect. This element requires as much descriptive information as possible about the abducted child and the abduction, as well as descriptive information about the suspect and the suspect's vehicle. Issuing alerts in the absence of significant information that an abduction has occurred could lead to abuse of the system and ultimately weaken its effectiveness. Age of ChildEvery state adopt the "17 years of age or younger" standard; or, at a minimum, agree to honor the request of any other state to issue an AMBER Alert, even if the case does not meet the responding state's age criterion, as long as it meets the age criterion of the requesting state. Most AMBER plans call for activation of the alert for children under a certain age. The problem is that age can vary---some plans specify 10, some 12, some 14, 15, and 16. Differences in age requirements create confusion when an activation requires multiple alerts across states and jurisdictions. Overuse of the AMBER Alert system will undermine its effectiveness as a tool for recovering abducted children. NCIC Data EntryImmediately enter AMBER Alert data into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. Text information describing the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the child should be entered, and the case flagged as a Child Abduction. Many plans do not mandate entry of the data into NCIC, but this omission undermines the entire mission of the AMBER Alert initiative. The notation on the entry should be sufficient to explain the circumstances of the disappearance of the child. Entry of the alert data into NCIC expands the search for an abducted child from the local, state, or regional level to the national. This is a critical element of any effective AMBER Alert plan. Summary of Department of Justice Recommended Criteria
  • There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
  • The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
  • There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
  • The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
  • The child's name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.
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Q: How long does a child have to be missing before an AMBER Alert is called?
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Related questions

Why is it called an AMBER Alert when a child goes missing?

The name Amber Alert was inspired by a case in 1996 when a child named Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered in Arlington Texas.


Can you put a amber alert out for an adult?

No, An Amber alert is for minor children only. It is an 'enahnced' missing person report. If an adult is missing you would simply have to report them missing. IF the circumstances of their being missing is suspeciouys it would be treated somewhat differently.


What defines a missing person?

what defines a missing person is if they yell out to somebody or if somebody knows and puts up an amber alert what defines a missing person is if they yell out to somebody or if somebody knows and puts up an amber alert


What is amber alert and what happen to amber?

Amber alert is to find your child if they are missing and to help locate them. Amber was killed because she was abducted and was found by a man and his dog in a dam.


Is there an elderly alert, similar to the Amber Alert, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee, Wisconsin instituted a program that utilizes the current Amber alert system but is called Silver Alert to aid in tracking the elderly.


When was AMBER Alert created?

AMBER Alert was created in 1996.


Who was the primary sponsor of the AMBER Alert bill?

Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Dianne Feinstein proposed the AMBER Alert legislation. AMBER is an acronym for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, but it was named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas in 1996.


What is it called when the police find a baby and put it on the news?

Its called an Amber Alert.


If you are 18 can you leave your parents without them sending an AMBER Alert after you?

Probably yes, because if you are 18, you are no longer a child -- therefore, they can't send an Amber Alert, but they could file a missing person report. Why are you asking this anyway?


What is meant by the phrase amber alert?

Amber alert is a phrase used by the police service to announce on public radio and television that a child has gone missing. Many details are given so that people can keep their eyes open and call police if they see the child.


What year did the amber alert start?

the amber alert started in the year of 1980s -1990s.


In what court did the amber alert started?

Amber Alert was developed by State Legislators, not in a courtroom.