November 24, 2008
The Associated Press recently took a deep look at the Amber Alert system in all 50 states and found some glaring differences. The whole story, which can be read below, is worth highlighting especially because of the disparities between states on the Amber Alert system.
The AP examined Amber Alert records from all 50 states and found that some barely keep track of the alerts they've issued, let alone whether they worked. A few states don't have anyone designated to oversee their programs.
The poor record keeping makes it difficult to tell whether investigators have ever missed a chance to safely recover an abducted child because of differences in the state laws and their application. Twelve states refuse to put out an alert when a parent calls police amid a custody fight, while others see that as a legitimate reason to enlist help from the public.
Twelve states issue Amber Alerts for adults with mental or physical disabilities, while other states save their bulletins solely for abducted children.
Amber Alerts were created in 1996 after the murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington. The city developed a system in which police work with broadcasters to put out bulletins on abducted children, similar to severe weather warnings. Soon, states began creating their own Amber Alert systems, and Congress established its own law in 2003.
Don’t let your child slip through the cracks of a state program that isn’t functioning well. Should your child go missing, make sure you are armed with all of the information you’ll need to ensure that your child can be returned to you safely.
