What are the criteria for issuing AMBER Alerts?
Each state AMBER Alert plan has its own criteria for issuing AMBER Alerts. The PROTECT Act, passed in 2003, which established the role of AMBER Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice (DOJ), calls for DOJ to issue minimum standards or guidelines for AMBER Alerts that states can adopt voluntarily. DOJ’s guidance on criteria for issuing AMBER Alerts is: • Law enforcement must confirm that an abduction has taken place • The child is at risk of serious injury or death • There is sufficient descriptive information of child, captor, or captor’s vehicle to issue an alert • The child must be 17 years old or younger • It is recommended that immediate entry of AMBER Alert data be entered in FBI’s National Crime Information Center. Text information describing the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the child should be entered, and the case flagged as Child Abduction. Most state’s guidelines adhere closely to DOJ’s recommended guidelines.
