What is AMBER ALERT? AMBER ALERT empowers law enforcement, the media and the public to combat abduction by sending out immediate, up-to-date information that aids in the child's safe recovery. AMBER ALERT Guidelines AMBER ALERT may be activated only by law enforcement agencies. AMBER ALERT is intended only for the most serious, time-critical child abduction cases. AMBER ALERT is not intended for cases involving runaways or parental adbuction, except in life-threatening situations. Criteria for activating an AMBER ALERT Law enforcement agencies ensure these conditions are met before activating an AMBER ALERT: The investigating law enforcement agency confirms an abduction has occurred. The victim is 17 years of age or younger, or has a proven mental or physical disability. The victim is in imminent danger of serious injury or death. There is information available that, if provided to the public, could assist in the child's safe recovery. Missing Children Hotline 1-800-222-FIND  (1-800-222-3463) The first few hours immediately following a child's disappearance are the most critical to bringing them home unharmed. Every hour, day and week that a child is missing, the likelihood that they will be recovered safely decreases drastically. In fact, 74% of abducted children who are murdered are killed within the first 3 hours of abduction. It is because of this sensitivity to time that programs such as the AMBER Plan were created. The AMBER Plan is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases with the hope that ordinary citizens are able to aid in the search for abducted children. History of AMBER ALERT The AMBER ALERT Program originated in Texas in 1996 after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered. Texas organized a system that encouraged law enforcement agencies to alert the media following a confirmed child abduction.   Amber Hagerman 1986 - 1996 Arlington, Texas  This nine-year old girl was abducted while riding her bicycle near her home. A neighbor saw the screaming girl being thrown into a truck and driven away. Her body, the throat cut, was found four days later in a drainage ditch four miles away. The case has never been solved. The Amber Alert is named after her.   Click on the above banner for Current Alerts.