What Is An Amber Alert?

The Amber Alert has become one of the most widely known child-protection programs in the world since being introduced about 12 or 13 years ago. The program gets its name from Amber Hagerman, who was nine years old when she was abducted, then murdered in Texas (1996).

Since that time, the notification of missing and possibly endangered children has been distributed via radio, television and other public message systems. In addition, people spread the word through email, billboards along major highways and even through text message on mobile phones. Emergency Alert Systems, previously used only for dangerous-weather bulletins, are also employed in the Amber alert system.

In its most basic form, an Amber Alert is first generated by a local, regional or state police organization that is in charge of investigating a possible kidnapping, abduction, injury or death of a child. According to encyclopedia information, a typical alert includes name and age, along with description, of the child, information about suspects in the case and information about any vehicle used by the suspect.

Restricting the issuance of such an alert to a formal police organization helps prevent what many have termed “cry wolf” or “false alarm” messages. But in addition to limiting the alerts to police agencies, the system operates with some strict guidelines. While there are differences from state to state or region to region, the fundamental pieces that are in place include:

• Law enforcement confirmation of an abduction

• Child that may be seriously injured or even killed

• Information about suspected abductor or captor, including vehicle information

• Child 17 or younger

Some states and law-enforcement agencies do not necessarily use the “serious injury/death” factor before issuing an Amber Alert. In some cases, those in charge of the case pursue their investigation even if there is believed to be little risk of such injury or death.

One of the problems with finding missing persons in general is the ability of various law-enforcement agencies to share details. The FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has helped eliminate many of these problems.

The success of the Amber Alert system is due to the initial efforts of Amber’s family and another family who had lost a child in a similar way five years earlier. The foundation for the system was established by these families, local churches and businesses. In fact, the effort was so successful that a federal child-protection act was passed and signed in the fall of 1996, just months after Amber’s abduction. Her killer was never found but the name and the program live on, helping dozens of children and their families. A public appearance by family members and the help of an Arlington, Texas radio station give the Amber Alert system the boost it needed.

The notification and information-sharing system grew and improved over the next decade to become the crucial part of society that it is today. Program publicity was aided by a made-for-television story as well. Federal financing has helped several states establish Amber Alert systems since 2000.

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