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How do AMBER Alerts
work?
Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they
must first determine if the case meets their AMBER Alert program’s
criteria. The U.S. Department of Justice recommends the following
criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert. Guidance on Criteria for Issuing
AMBER Alerts
•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 is assembled 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 Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency
Alert System (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.
Law enforcement also notifies the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children (NCMEC) when an AMBER Alert is released for a
specific geographical area. Once NCMEC validates the AMBER Alert, it is
entered into a secure system and transmitted to authorized secondary
distributors for dissemination to customers within the geographic areas
specified.
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.
Does the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issue AMBER
Alerts?
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) releases
AMBER Alerts to secondary distributors, once we are notified by law
enforcement that an Alert has been released for a specific geographical
area. Once NCMEC validates the AMBER Alert, it is entered into a secure
system and transmitted to authorized secondary distributors for
dissemination to customers within the geographic areas specified.
Secondary distributors are defined as companies, businesses, or
organizations that have the capability to deliver geographically
targeted messages to their customers; and have a signed Memorandum of
Understanding with NCMEC. Internet service providers (ISPs) are an
example of secondary distributors.
Only law enforcement can initiate and release AMBER Alerts for primary
distribution.
What should I do when an AMBER Alert is issued?
The AMBER Alert message encourages the public to look for the abducted
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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