History of Amber alert in Timeline
An Amber Alert, or Child Abduction Emergency Alert, is a public notification system used to disseminate information about missing children, particularly in cases of abduction. Originating in the United States, the system enlists the public's help in locating abducted children by broadcasting alerts through various channels. These alerts typically include details about the missing child, the suspected abductor, and any vehicle information. The goal is to quickly mobilize communities and law enforcement to aid in the safe recovery of the child.
November 25, 1986: Amber Hagerman's Birth
On November 25, 1986, Amber Rene Hagerman was born. She was later abducted and murdered, which led to the creation of the Amber Alert system.
1993: Polly Klaas Kidnapping and Murder
In 1993, Polly Klaas was kidnapped and murdered in Petaluma, California. Upon hearing the news of Amber Hagerman's abduction, her father, Richard, called Marc Klaas, Polly's father.
February 1996: NCMEC Declines to Participate in Amber Alert Program
In February 1996, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children declined to be a part of the Amber alert program.
June 1996: Williams Testifies Before Congress
In June 1996, Donna Williams testified in front of the United States Congress, asking legislators to create a nationwide registry of sex offenders. Representative Martin Frost proposed an "Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act" to create a national sex offender registry.
July 1996: Media Symposium and Launch of First Amber Alert
In July 1996, Bruce Seybert spoke at a media symposium in Arlington, discussing how local police could quickly help find missing children and how the media could facilitate those efforts. Following this, C.J. Wheeler from radio station KRLD approached the Dallas police chief with Seybert's ideas and launched the first ever Amber Alert.
1998: Child Alert Foundation Creates Automated Alert System
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. Alerts were sent to radio stations, television stations, law enforcement, newspapers, and local support organizations via pagers, faxes, emails, and cell phones.
October 2000: House of Representatives Encourages Amber Plan
In October 2000, the United States House of Representatives adopted H.Res.605, which encouraged communities nationwide to implement the Amber Plan.
October 2001: NCMEC Launches Campaign for Nationwide Systems
In October 2001, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched a campaign to have Amber alert systems established nationwide.
February 2002: FCC Endorses System
In February 2002, the Federal Communications Commission officially endorsed the Amber Alert system.
July 24, 2002: California Establishes Amber Alert System
On July 24, 2002, prompted by the kidnapping and murder of Samantha Runnion, California established an Amber alert system.
September 2002: Legislation Proposed for Amber Alert Coordinator
By September 2002, 26 states had established Amber alert systems. US Senators proposed legislation to name an Amber alert coordinator in the U.S. Justice Department and provide $25 million in federal matching grants for states to establish Amber alert programs and purchase equipment like electronic highway signs.
October 2002: President Bush Announces Changes to System
At an October 2002 conference, President George W. Bush announced changes to the Amber alert system, including the development of a national standard for issuing Amber alerts.
October 2002: Traffic Congestion from Amber Alert in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles in October 2002, an Amber alert displayed on freeway signs caused significant traffic congestion.
November 14, 2002: First System Created in Sussex
On November 14, 2002, the first system in the UK of this kind was created in Sussex.
November 2002: America Online Offers Digital Amber Alerts
In November 2002, America Online began offering a service allowing people to sign up to receive Amber alert notifications via computer, pager, or cell phone, targeted to specific geographic regions using ZIP Codes.
2002: NCMEC Promotes Amber Alert
Following the automation of the Amber alert 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.
April 2003: Related Bill Becomes Law
In April 2003, a related bill regarding Amber Alert became law.
May 26, 2003: Amber Alert Introduced in Quebec
On May 26, 2003, the AMBER alert system was introduced in Quebec. The name was adapted in French to Alerte Médiatique But Enfant Recherché.
2003: Criminologist Timothy Griffin's Research
A research team led by criminologist Timothy Griffin reviewed hundreds of abduction cases that occurred between 2003 and 2006.
May 2005: Queensland Implements Amber Alerts
In May 2005, the Australian state of Queensland implemented a version of the Amber alerts.
2005: Amber Alert Operational in All Fifty States
By 2005, all fifty states had operational Amber Alert programs, which now operate across state and jurisdictional boundaries.
2005: Alert System in Every Local Jurisdiction in England and Wales
By 2005, every local jurisdiction in England and Wales had its own form of alert system.
May 2006: US Postal Service Issues Amber Alert Stamp
In May 2006, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp commemorating Amber alerts, featuring a drawing of a reunited mother and child.
2006: Criminologist Timothy Griffin's Research
A research team led by criminologist Timothy Griffin reviewed hundreds of abduction cases that occurred between 2003 and 2006.
2006: Wireless Amber Alert Program
By 2006, members of the public could sign up online to receive Amber alerts via SMS through the Wireless Amber Alert program, administered in partnership with CTIA.
2006: Amber's Story TV Movie
In 2006, the TV movie Amber's Story, starring Elisabeth Röhm and Sophie Hough, was broadcast on Lifetime.
April 1, 2007: Amber Alert System Active in North West England
On April 1, 2007, the AMBER alert system became active in North West England.
September 2007: Malaysia Implements Nurin Alert
In September 2007, Malaysia implemented the Nurin Alert, which is based on the Amber alert, and named after a missing girl, Nurin Jazlin.
2008: AMBER Alert Netherlands Launched
In 2008, AMBER Alert Netherlands was launched.
2008: Texas Implements "Blue Alert"
Since 2008, Texas has implemented the "blue alert" for suspected cases of serious injury to police officers.
February 14, 2009: First Dutch AMBER Alert Issued
On February 14, 2009, the first Dutch AMBER alert was issued when a 4-year-old boy went missing in Rotterdam. He was found safe after being recognized by a person who saw his picture on an electronic billboard.
April 2009: Amber Alert System Announced in Ireland
In April 2009, it was announced that an AMBER alert system would be set up in Ireland.
May 25, 2010: Nationwide Launch of Child Rescue Alert
On May 25, 2010, the Child Rescue Alert, based on the AMBER alert system, was launched nationwide in Britain.
2010: Child Abduction Response Teams Program
As of 2010, 225 Child Abduction Response Teams (CART) have been trained in 43 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Canada. CART can be used in all missing children's cases with or without an Amber alert, and to help recover runaway children under the age of 18 who are in danger.
May 2012: Child Rescue Ireland Alert Introduced
In May 2012, the Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert was officially introduced.
October 3, 2012: First Use of System in the UK
On October 3, 2012, the system was first used in the UK with regard to missing 5-year-old April Jones in Wales.
2012: California Creates Silver Alert
In 2012, California created the Silver Alert for missing elderly people.
December 31, 2012: Wireless Amber Alert Program Retired
On December 31, 2012, the Wireless Amber Alert program was retired in favor of Wireless Emergency Alerts.
July 2013: Concerns Over Wireless Emergency Alerts
In July 2013, a New York child abduction alert sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts system at 4 a.m. raised concerns that many cellphone users would disable WEA alerts.
August 2013: Amber Alert Recoveries
As of August 2013, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that 656 children were recovered because of the Amber alert program.
2014: Amber Alert Report Findings
According to the 2014 Amber Alert Report, 186 Amber alerts were issued in the US, involving 239 children – 60 of whom were taken by strangers or people other than their legal guardians.
April 2015: AMBER Alert Slovakia Available
Since April 2015, an emergency child abduction alert system "AMBER Alert Slovakia" is also available in Slovakia. (www.amberalert.sk)
May 2016: China Launches Emergency Release Platform
In May 2016, the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China launched the Ministry of Public Security Emergency Release Platform for Children's Missing Information in Beijing. This platform, supported technically by Alibaba Group, disseminates information about missing children to nearby mobile phones to engage the public in the search.
November 2017: New Zealand Launches Amber Alert System
In November 2017, the New Zealand Police launched their own version of the Amber Alert system, inserting information about the missing individual in the news feeds of Facebook users and alerting news organizations.
2019: MegaFon Develops MegaFon.Poisk Alert System
In 2019, MegaFon developed its own alert system called MegaFon.Poisk, which is used for searches of children and adults in Russia.
2021: Proposed Merger of Amber Alerts into Burgernet
In 2021, Dutch police authorities proposed to merge Amber alerts into the Burgernet system, but Parliament blocked the initiative.
2022: California Creates Feather Alert
In 2022, California created the "feather alert" for missing Indigenous people.
October 25, 2023: Amber Alert System Started in Serbia
The AMBER alert system, called "Pronađi me" (transl. Find me), started operating in Serbia on October 25, 2023.
2024: Texas Blue Alert Controversy
In 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety sent a blue alert at 4:50 a.m. to cell phones across the state, prompting complaints and disbelief from the public.
2025: Alberta Government Spending Equivalent
In December 2002, the Alberta government committed to spending more than CA$1 million (equivalent to $1.6 million in 2025) to expanding the province's emergency warning system so that it could be used effectively for Amber Alerts.
February 2026: Automatic Distribution Through Wireless Emergency Alerts
As of February 2026, Amber Alerts are automatically distributed through the Wireless Emergency Alerts network.
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