One of the many important mandates in the United States is the Amber Plan. The Amber Plan stands for, America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. The Amber Plan is a way to inform the public about serious child abduction cases. .
The Amber Plan is a partnership between the law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to create an urgent bulletin in a child abduction cases. The broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or known as the Emergency Broadcast System to air a description of the abducted child and the suspected abductor. This plan works the same way as if a big storm was coming into our area. The description would come on the bottom of the television screen or interrupt the radio station to inform you. The goal of this would be to alert the surrounding community of the situation and hopefully they will be able to assist in the search for and the safe return of the child. .
The Amber Plan was created in 1996 following the discovery of an abduction of a child. Amber Hagerman, a bright little 9-year-old, was kidnapped and brutally murdered while riding her bike in Arlington, Texas. With the news of this tragedy many people were outraged and shocked. People contacted radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested that they should broadcast alerts so in many cases it would help prevent these kinds of incidents from occurring. In response to the concern from the people, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers teamed up with local law-enforcement agencies to develop this brilliant warning system. It has been shown that when a child is abducted the worst factor is time. .
The Amber Plan works by the three criteria set by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children being met. The law enforcement has to confirm a child has been abducted. The law enforcement has to come to the conclusion that the abducted child is in danger of serious harm or even death.
