 In
1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while playing
near her home in Arlington, Texas,
and later found murdered. In response to community concern,
the Texas Association of Radio Managers, with the assistance
of Texas’ local area law enforcement, created the
first AMBER Plan. All fifty states now have similar plans.
The Illinois AMBER Alert Notification Plan is a voluntary
partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters,
and the National Weather Service to activate an urgent
bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases. This
is the same concept used during severe weather emergencies.
The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the
entire community to assist in the search for and safe return
of the child.
History - Illinois
In January 2002, Illinois was the fifth state to develop
a statewide plan and the first state to enact specific
AMBER Alert legislation.
Click here to read Illinois Public Act 092-0259
Enhanced Illinois legislation in July 2003, included the
appointment of a Child Safety Coordinator, the establishment
of an AMBER Plan Task Force, use of Illinois Department
of Transportation electronic message signs, a community
outreach program, child abduction prevention in school
curricula, and training for law enforcement personnel.
Click here for a PDF copy of Illinois Public Act 093-0310
The Illinois State Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the state of Wisconsin and an Inter-State MOU
for the activation of an alert that may cross other state
lines.
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History - National
On April 30, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the
Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation
of Children Today (PROTECT) Act of 2003 into law.
Click here for a PDF copy of The Protect Act of 2003
Building on the steps already taken by the Bush Administration
to support AMBER Alert programs, this Act codified the
national coordination of state and local AMBER Alert programs,
including the development of guidance for issuance and
dissemination of AMBER Alerts and the appointment of a
national AMBER Alert Coordinator. In anticipation of the
passage of this national legislation, on October 2, 2002,
Attorney General John Ashcroft appointed Assistant Attorney
General for the Office of Justice Programs to serve as
national AMBER Alert coordinator.
For more information about the national coordination of
the AMBER Plan, visit the U.S. Department of Justice Office
of Justice Program's AMBER Plan web site.
http://www.AMBERalert.gov
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Process
The investigating local law enforcement agency contacts
the Illinois State Police providing details of the abduction.
If the AMBER Notification Plan criteria are met, activation
is initiated. The Illinois State Police then ensures the
child abduction information is disseminated to the broadcast
community through the National Weather Service NOAA Weather
Radio and secondary blast fax/email, posted here and on
all Illinois state websites, and the information displayed
on Department of Transportation and Tollway roadway message
boards.
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Media Participation
Once the child abduction information is received through
the National Weather Service and/or secondary dissemination
of email or fax, radio and television stations have the
option on whether or not to re-broadcast the information.
Large audiences can be reached through the media, thereby
enhancing everyone's efforts in safely recovering an abducted
child.
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