What You Need to Know About Amber Alert
In just the last few years finally every state in America has created some type of Amber Alert when it comes to missing children. The idea is simple... to quickly get information out to the public so that they can be on the look out for a missing child. While the actual criteria varies from state to state, usually Amber Alerts are only issued when a child, under the age of 17, is known to have been kidnapped, is in eminent danger, and a suspect vehicle and or suspect can be identified. With 2100 children reported missing every day in the U.S., you can quickly ascertain the need to be selective when issuing these alerts. Overuse could be incredibly harmful to the program by desensitizing the public.
Americas Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response or the AMBER Alert was named in honor of Amber Hagerman, of Arlington, TX, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 1996. Amber's family and missing children agencies around the country rallied for the need to develop a system to quickly engage the public to assist in the search efforts when a child is abducted.
Since January 2010, nearly 500 children have been rescued due to the Amber Alert system. In some cases the abductor has actually released a child after they heard the Amber Alert, knowing they would be caught. When an Amber Alert is issued, television and radio stations broadcast the specific details. Since most people in cars are listening to radio, the ability to quickly get lots of “eyes” searching for a suspect vehicle is one of the reasons this program is so successful. In addition, most cities also utilize informational traffic signs that can be updated with critical details to further enhance the program.
The Amber Alert is an important tool when it comes to saving children... children who may not have had a chance before, now know that thousands of people will be looking for them if the need ever arises.
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