• 44% of abducted children are murdered within
the first hour;
• 74% in the first three;
• 1% survive more than a day;
• 40% were dead before they were reported missing.
Source: Case Management for Missing Children Homicide
Investigation USA 1997
Program Description:
The AMBER Alert Program was implemented in the province of New
Brunswick on November 9, 2003.
The first hours that a child goes missing are chaotic. Emotions are high. How an agency's
first responder reacts or approaches these situations is critical to support a safe return.
America's Missing:
Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER)
Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in the most
serious child abduction cases. Broadcasters use an Emergency Alert System (EAS) to air the description of
an abducted child and suspected abductor. The goal of AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist
in the search and safe return of the child.
The origin of the AMBER Alert Program:
The AMBER Plan was created in 1996 when 9 year
old Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and brutally murdered while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas.
The tragedy shocked and outraged the entire community.
Residents contacted radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested they broadcast special "alerts" over the airwaves so that
they could help prevent such incidents in the future.
In response to the community's concern for the safety
of local children, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers teamed up with local law enforcement agencies in northern
Texas and developed this innovative early warning system to help find abducted children. Statistics show that, when abducted,
a child's greatest enemy is time.
The AMBER Alert Plan:
The AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary, cooperative
program between law-enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency alert to the public when a child has
been abducted and it is believed that the child's life is in grave danger.
The primary goal of the AMBER Alert plan is to call
upon the entire community to assist in the search for the child and suspect.
An AMBER Alert can only be activated by a specified person who is an authorized user and it is only to be used for a serious
child abduction. Law enforcement agencies must follow these guidelines and criteria prior to issuing an AMBER Alert.
Guidelines:
AMBER Alert may be activated only by the police.
AMBER Alert is intended only for the most serious, time critical abduction cases.
Criteria for Activating AMBER Alert:
Police have confirmed that an abduction has occurred.
The victim is a child under 18 (but may vary dependant of provincial law), also some jurisdiction include if the victim
is an adult of proven mental or physical disability.
There is reason to believe the victim is in danger of serious bodily injury.
There is information available that, if disseminated to the general public, could assist in the safe recovery of the victim,
(ie: description of suspect's vehicle, lic. plate number, suspect is known).
If the above criteria is not met, the AMBER Alert should not be activated
Media partnership in the province of New Brunswick
Broadcast Media is asked to air the AMBER Alert according
to the following guidelines:
every fifteen (15) minutes for the first three (3)
hours
after the initial three (3) hours, every half-hour
for five (5) hours
include the alert in newscasts for 24 hours
UPDATES - when new information becomes
available, the media will be advised of such updates. This is not a re-activation, but only an update.
CANCELLATION - after twenty-four
hours, the AMBER Alert is officially cancelled (continues as regular news)
(*Notification to the media will be given when/if
a child and/or an abductor has/have been located)
What happens when an AMBER Alert is activated?
Once police officials have confirmed a missing
child report, an alert is sent to radio stations, television stations, and cable companies. Broadcasters interrupt programming
to relay the information using the EAS to voluntarily deliver the information to the community - the same concept used during
severe weather or national emergencies. A description of the abducted child, suspected abductor and details of the abduction
are broadcast to millions of listeners and viewers. (The alert is read after a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is an AMBER Alert.")
The alert also provides information about how members
of the public who have information relating to the abduction may contact the police or other appropriate law enforcement agency.
The goal of the AMBER Plan is to galvanize an entire
community, adding millions of extra eyes and ears to watch, listen, and help in the safe return of the child and apprehension
of the suspect. The EAS is used to notify the public about severe weather and other national emergencies. In order to prevent
the over use of the EAS system, two criteria must usually be met to enact the AMBER Plan:
A child must be 18 years of age or younger, or have
a proven mental or physical disability; and
Police must believe the child is in danger of serious
bodily harm or death.
What You Can Do:
If you see 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 possible.
Benefits of the AMBER Alert Program:
The AMBER Alert program helps law enforcement agencies and
the public at large, to help save children who might be in grave danger. Some of the benefits include:
Providing law enforcement with a strategy to respond
quickly and efficiently to serious child abductions;
Broadcasters and Police provide a proactive way to
help protect their community's children;
Increasing law enforcement's ability to locate witnesses
and help resolve cases more quickly.
A crime is committed and you know who is responsible - we're interested in receiving
tips on any crime, whether featured or not.
If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash award. You will never
have to give your name, or testify in court. Aliant Mobility customers dial *8477 from your cell phone
or mobile device. Call N.B. Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
- Anonymity Guaranteed!
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