Check For AMBER Alerts

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What is AMBER Alert?
Who Are The AMBER Alert Partners?
When Is An AMBER Alert Issued?
Where Is The Alert System Used?
Why Was the AMBER Alert Created?
What Should You Do in Case of an AMBER Alert?

The AMBER Plan is a voluntary, cooperative program between the law enforcement community and the broadcast media to send an emergency alert, called “AMBER Alert,” to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed that the child’s life is in grave danger. Once notified of an authenticated abduction, the New Jersey State Police contacts the broadcast media, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as all listed AMBER Alert partners. NOAA immediately interrupts radio and television programming to broadcast information about the abducted child, and/or the abductor, by activating a prearranged distinctive tone, followed by “This is an AMBER Alert.” The media will rebroadcast the AMBER Alert as often as possible, per the guidelines established by the New Jersey Broadcasters’ Association (NJBA) for the first three to six hours. After the initial six hours, the alert will be rebroadcast at such intervals as the investigating authority, the State Police and the participating media deem appropriate.

• New York State Police

• Pennsylvania State Police

• New Jersey Broadcasters Association

• National Oceanic Atmospheric Association

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

• New Jersey Transit

• New Jersey Highway Authority

• New Jersey Turnpike Authority

• Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission

• United States Postal Service

• United States Postal Inspection Service

• United Parcel Service (UPS)

• Federal Express Corporation (FedEx)

• NY/NJ Port Authority

• Delaware River Port Authority

• Delaware River Bay Authority

• Burlington County Bridge Commission

• Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

• United States Customs Service

• Federal Bureau of Investigation

• New Jersey Department of Transportation

• New Jersey Lottery

While each state determines its own parameters for issuing an AMBER Alert, the State of New Jersey has developed the following criteria:

AMBER Alerts are intended for non-family cases of child abduction, where the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. AMBER Alerts are not intended for all missing child incidents, runaways, or child custody situations. All law enforcement must work together to ensure AMBER Alerts are not abused. Abuse will lead to a lack of confidence by law enforcement and the public. For the AMBER Alert to be activated the following criteria must be met:

• The child must be under the age of 18.

• The child must be in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

• There must be enough descriptive information to believe an AMBER Alert will help locate the child.

• There must have been a short enough delay between the time the child was last seen and the time the child was reported missing to believe an AMBER Alert will help locate the child.

Other Considerations:

• Possible domestic or parental involvement

• Is there enough information to indicate that an AMBER Alert will help?

If the missing child does not fit the AMBER Alert criteria, law enforcement agencies should not hesitate to contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit for assistance if needed. The investigating agency should still prepare and distribute fliers utilizing all available means, however, there will be no emergency broadcast interrupting radio and television. This plan is not designed to limit law enforcement from pursuing their own agreements with the media in publicizing any missing person within their jurisdiction. All law enforcement agencies are encouraged to pursue any and all previously developed techniques designed to locate the missing child, and not to wait for the AMBER Alert authentication before employing those methods. The plan is designed to enhance those techniques utilizing the emergency broadcast system, once the AMBER Alert is authenticated.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) lists the various Statewide, regional, and local programs in effect. Fifty-two variations on the Alert system are in use across the country, and the Canadian government is considering a similar program.

The AMBER Plan was created in 1996 as a powerful legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, a bright little girl who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas and brutally murdered. 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 the passage of time.

The AMBER Alert message encourages the public to look for the missing child or suspect. You become the ears and eyes of law enforcement. In the event that you spot a child, adult, or vehicle fitting the AMBER Alert description, immediately call 9-1-1 and provide authorities with as much information as you know.