An AMBER Alert (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) is a public notification system designed to quickly disseminate information about child abductions. Originating in the United States, it enlists the help of the public in locating missing children. The alert system is activated when law enforcement confirms a child abduction has occurred and believes the child is in imminent danger. Broadcast through various media channels, including radio, television, road signs, and mobile devices, the alert includes details about the child, the suspected abductor, and any relevant vehicle information. The goal is rapid dissemination to maximize the chances of the child's safe recovery by generating immediate public awareness and vigilance.
On November 25, 1986, Amber Rene Hagerman, the namesake of the Amber Alert system, was born.
In 1993, Polly Klaas was kidnapped and murdered in Petaluma, California. Following Amber Hagerman's abduction, her father, Richard, contacted Marc Klaas, Polly's father, highlighting the impact of such tragedies on families and communities.
In February 1996, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that had declined to be a part of the Amber alert program.
In June 1996, Donna Williams testified before the United States Congress, advocating for a nationwide registry of sex offenders. Representative Martin Frost proposed an "Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act," which included a section to create a national sex offender registry.
In July 1996, at a media symposium in Arlington, Bruce Seybert spoke about police and media efforts to find missing children. C.J. Wheeler, a reporter from radio station KRLD, subsequently approached the Dallas police chief with Seybert's ideas, leading to the launch of the first Amber Alert.
In 1998, the Child Alert Foundation created the first fully automated Alert Notification System (ANS) to notify surrounding communities when a child was reported missing or abducted. This system sent alerts to radio stations, television stations, law enforcement, newspapers, and local support organizations via pagers, faxes, emails, and cell phones, with the information immediately posted on the Internet for public access.
In October 2000, the United States House of Representatives adopted H.Res.605, encouraging communities nationwide to implement the Amber Plan.
In October 2001, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) launched a campaign to establish Amber Alert systems nationwide, reversing their initial reluctance to participate in the program from February 1996.
In February 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially endorsed the Amber Alert system.
On July 24, 2002, California established an Amber Alert system after the kidnapping and murder of Samantha Runnion.
By September 2002, 26 states had established Amber Alert systems covering all or parts of the state.
At an October 2002 conference on missing, exploited, and runaway children, President George W. Bush announced changes to the Amber Alert system, including the development of a national standard for issuing Amber Alerts.
On November 14, 2002, the first system of this kind in the UK was created in Sussex, paving the way for the national Child Rescue Alert.
Beginning in November 2002, America Online (AOL) introduced a service allowing users to sign up for digital Amber Alert notifications via computer, pager, or cell phone, targeting specific geographic regions based on ZIP Code.
Following the automation of the Amber alert system with ANS technology created by the Child Alert Foundation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) expanded its role in 2002 to promote the Amber alert.
In April 2003, a bill related to the Amber Alert system became law, further solidifying and supporting the nationwide implementation of the program.
On May 26, 2003, the AMBER Alert program was introduced in Quebec, Canada, with the name adapted in French to Alerte Médiatique But Enfant Recherché, meaning "Media Alert Goal of Child Recovery."
In May 2005, the Australian state of Queensland implemented a version of the Amber Alert system.
By 2005, all fifty states in the United States had operational Amber Alert programs, allowing the program to operate across state and jurisdictional boundaries.
By 2005, every local jurisdiction in England and Wales had its own form of alert system.
On April 1, 2007, the AMBER Alert system became active in North West England, with plans for nationwide implementation.
On February 14, 2009, the first Dutch AMBER alert was issued for a missing 4-year-old boy in Rotterdam, who was found safe after being recognized from an electronic billboard. The alert was halted before all recipients received it due to the quick recovery.
In April 2009, it was announced that an AMBER Alert system would be set up in Ireland, marking a significant step towards child protection.
On May 25, 2010, the Child Rescue Alert, based on the AMBER Alert system, was launched nationwide in Britain.
In 2010, the United States Department of Justice developed the Child Abduction Response Teams (CART) program to assist local agencies in missing children's cases, including runaways under 18 in danger, even if an Amber alert is not issued. By 2010, 225 response teams had been trained across 43 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Canada.
In May 2012, the Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert was officially introduced, enhancing child protection measures.
On October 3, 2012, the Child Rescue Alert system was first used in the UK regarding missing 5-year-old April Jones in Wales.
As of January 1, 2013, Amber Alerts are automatically sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program, enhancing the speed and reach of the alerts.
In April 2015, the emergency child abduction alert system "AMBER Alert Slovakia" became available in Slovakia.
In November 2017, the New Zealand Police launched their version of the Amber Alert system, integrating it with Facebook to display information about missing individuals in the news feeds of users in the target area.
In 2021, Dutch police authorities proposed merging Amber Alerts into the Burgernet system, but the initiative was blocked by Parliament. Dutch police continues to send Amber Alerts through Burgernet and its own social media.
The AMBER alert system, called "Pronađi me" (transl. Find me) started operating in Serbia on October 25, 2023.
In 2023, the equivalent value of CA$1 million in 2002 was $1.6 million, reflecting the investment made by the Alberta government to implement the Amber Alert system.
The Serbian AMBER alert system, called "Pronađi me" (transl. Find me), was first activated on March 26, 2024 due to the disappearance of two-year-old girl, Danka Ilić, in Banjsko Polje in Bor.
Ukraine is a large Eastern European country bordering Russia Belarus...
Facebook is a social media and networking service created in...
George W Bush served as the rd President of the...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Puerto Rico is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and an unincorporated...
New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern...
7 months ago Dodgers' Anthony Banda showcases barber skills, cutting Tony Gonsolin's hair: A unique talent.
6 months ago Steve Cherundolo: LAFC Coach to Leave Club After 2025 Season, Returning to Germany
3 days ago Spoelstra regrets Ware decision after Heat loss; Knecht as superstar solution?
Joe Torre is a former MLB player manager and executive currently serving as a special assistant to the MLB commissioner...
5 months ago DiCaprio Breakup Resurfaces, Murphy & Craig in Talks for Chazelle Film.
1 hour ago Pete Davidson Teams Up With David Leitch for Stunt Design Showdown Movie
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as...