The Amber Alert System

Child abductions have become a common occurrence in our society. The need to inform the public on a grand scale is a matter of utmost importance. At one time, no such method existed. A day in Arlington, Texas would change that forever. Out of tragedy, the AMBER Alert System was started. The unauthorized taking of a child without permission from a parent or guardian is considered a child abduction. There are two main types are by family members and a stranger abduction. Although the taking of a child by a family member is more common, a stranger abduction can be much more dangerous. A child goes missing or is abducted in this country every 40 seconds. Most abductions occur within a quarter mile of the child’s home and the chances of finding a child alive after 24 hours, is greatly diminished. Although, “A 2006 study indicated that 76.2 percent of abducted children who are killed are dead within the first three hours of the abduction.” (Case Management for Missing Children Homicides, 2006). Whichever the case the need to act quickly is crucial. Amber Hagerman and her brother Ricky rode their bicycles around the block to an abandoned supermarket parking lot, not far from their …show more content…
They wanted tougher laws to protect the children. The Governor felt all they needed was better enforcement, Texas law was tough enough. Together with Marc Klass, they then contacted Congressman Martin Frost. The Congressman helped draft The Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act, which was signed October 1996 by President Clinton. The Act would create a national sex offender registry and require no chance of parole for two time sex offenders whose victims are children. This Act would ultimately lead to the America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response, the AMBER