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The Amber Alert is a critical missing child response program that utilizes the resources of law enforcement and media to notify the public when children are kidnapped. Although the scope of the Amber Alert varies, the criteria for activation are fairly consistent. Whether it is a local, regional or statewide program, law enforcement agencies activate an Amber Alert by notifying broadcast media with relevant identifying and case information when circumstances meets the following criteria:

• The missing child is of a pre-determined age;
• The law enforcement agency believes the child has been kidnapped;
• The agency believes the missing child is under threat of serious bodily harm or death.

Once they receive the Amber Alert radio and television stations interrupt regularly scheduled programming to notify the public that a child has been kidnapped. Since 95% of all people driving in their cars listen to the radio, this is an extremely effective way of quickly providing descriptions of the child, the kidnapper, vehicles or accomplices.

Besides turning the public into instant investigators when children are kidnapped, benefits of the Amber Alert include:

• It is free;
• It encourages participation between natural adversaries, law enforcement and media by drawing on their inherent strengths;
• It promotes accountability by creating the foundation of a comprehensive missing child protocol;
• It is an effective time critical response to kidnappers who can disappear with children at the rate of a mile per minute;
• It sends a powerful message to potential kidnappers that this is a community that cares about and protects children;
• It saves lives.

Visit the Maryland State Amber Alert Plan at www.mdamberplan.com.