Kidnapped children can disappear at the rate of a mile per minute, the maximum speed an abductor can escape in a vehicle with full confidence that he/she will not attract the attention of law enforcement by violating speed limits.  The Texas Department of Public Safety and Beyondmissing.com are a two part defense to permit a quick and effective way of alerting the public that a child is missing.

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Bexar County Sheriff
Rolando R. Tafolla

What is AMBER Alert?

The system was designed to alert the public that a child has been abducted and to solicit their aid in the search.

It is named for Amber Hagerman of Arlington, Texas who was kidnapped and killed in 1996.  AMBER uses radio, television, roadside electronic billboards and emergency broadcast systems to disseminate information about any kidnapping suspects and their victims as soon after the crime is committed as possible.  

It is employed when the child is under the age of 17 and is considered to be in serious harm or in risk of death.

Source: Klaas Kids Foundation

What is AMBER?

When a child has been abducted, a missing child response system called the AMBER Alert is activated. It solicits aid from the public to look for victims. The AMBER Alert is named for Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered in Texas in 1996. AMBER is also the acronym for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response that uses the resources of law enforcement and media to notify the public when a child is abducted.

Source: Klaas Kids Foundation; National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

What is required for an Amber alert issuance?

Before activating the AMBER Alert system, the case must meet these criteria:

• The abducted child must be 17 years of age or younger

• The local law enforcement agency must believe that the child has been abducted, that is, unwillingly taken from their environment without permission from the child's parent or legal guardian.

• The local law enforcement agency must believe that the missing child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death.

• The local law enforcement agency must confirm that an investigation has taken place that verifies the abduction and has eliminated alternative explanations for the missing child; and

• Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child, the suspect, or the vehicle used by the suspect in the abduction.

Once those criteria are met, the alert is activated. AMBER uses radio, television, roadside electronic billboards and emergency broadcast systems to disseminate information about kidnapping suspects and victims soon after the crime is committed. The information may include descriptions and photographs of the missing child, the suspect and the suspect's vehicle. Some states have different requirements for Amber alerts. Please check with your local law enforcement agency to determine yours.

Source: Klaas Kids Foundation; National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

History of Amber Alert

The Amber Alert was created in response to the murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, in 1996.

Which states have it?

Although many localities participate in the AMBER Alert system, only 14 states have fully adopted it.

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