Serious Amber Alert Question?

Question

In our community a child was recently missing for three days without the police calling an amber alert. Their excuse: "There was not enough evidence the child had been adbucted to call an amber alert."

This is one of the most populous urban areas in the U.S. The likelihood that someone took the child is very high. How much evidence does any police force need that a child MAY HAVE BEEN absucted, beyond the fact that the child is missing and has not been found after days?

Now, national agencies are getting involved. But I can't help feel that the system failed the parents at the local level. Has anyone else ever heard of the authorities hesitating to issue an amber alert based on the excuse "There is not enough evidence that the child was abducted"? Isn't the child being missing enough?

It's Louisville, Kentucky. The mayor and Police Chief and chamber of commerce will try and bury this, but they should be in deep trouble for this, imho.

A 4 year old. A four year old!

Yes 'searching', Louisville. This is the most disturbing thing I recall ever having seen in this area. Unconscienable.

Not found yet. No.

FInal comment: Despite the guidelines, we have all seen amber alert cases where the child eventually turned up fine at a relative's house or a neighbor's treehouse. This never makes me angry, because I would much prefer the authorities to err on the side of caution than interpret their own rules so strictly that even one child slips through the crack.

I still think this case raises a question: Why do some people get the full treatment, and some people have to "prove" they need help. Clearly, they have the rules, but act at their own discretion/whim, and that is the weak spot in the system that allows preferential or exclusionary decisions to be made.

I don't know what yahoo answers is up to, but I am being blocked from awarding a best answer for this question. Yes, it's true. I have logged on three times trying to give the award to the answer that I thought best, and I am forced to sign in doubly, and I am finally notified after entering my comment that my session has expired. You want to talk about politically motivated censorship? You're in the presence of it this very minute if you are reading this comment.

Answer 1

You must be in my area - Louisville. Because that is EXACTLY what is happening and I am as mystified as you!

Check my question about it:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070702115303AAGdf4s

Something is very wrong!

Answer 2

From what I understand for an Amber Alert to be issued the following criteria has to be met.
1. Child Abducted.
2. Child description.
3. Vehicle and/or suspect decription.

I have heard that if there is no Vehicle and/or Suspect desription they will usually not use the Amber alert system. The Amber alert is to alert the community of a Child abduction and its tough with just a child description. Now if you have a Vehicle and maybe or only a suspect description you now have something or someone to look for other than a child.

As a matter of fact I just found the Amber Alert criteria.

From: amberalert.gov

-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, calls for the Department of Justice to issue minimum standards or guidelines for AMBER Alerts that states can adopt voluntarily. The Department's Guidance on Criteria for Issuing AMBER Alerts follows:

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 into the 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 the DOJ's recommended guidelines.

-Are AMBER Alerts issued for all missing children?
AMBER Alerts are issued for abducted children when the situation meets the AMBER Alert criteria. Some children wander away in a crowded grocery store, others might run off after a heated argument. When a child is missing, law enforcement can act swiftly to help recover the child, by developing search and rescue teams or by bringing dogs to the scene to track the scent for example. AMBER Alert is only one tool that law enforcement can use to find abducted children. AMBER Alerts should be reserved for those cases that meet the AMBER criteria. Overuse of AMBER Alert could result in the public becoming desensitized to Alerts when they are issued.

Answer 3

If you child/teenager is missing and never come home and never found again, It will be the missing child's fault and also it will be the family/parents/grandparents' fault and they will be really angry angry when the missing child/teenager will be never again as a result of the amber alert and also due to the amber alert too.

Answer 4

If this is an actual abduction, then an Amber Alert should have been put out immediately. If this is family related, and the child is not in immediate danger per information received, then an Amber Alert is not put out.
Unfortunately, I do not know all the circumstances, so it is hard for me to make a definite conclusion.

Answer 5

Well, what if the child were a teenager who has a history of running away? I'd need more details. But, in general, I think an Amber Alert should be issued immediately when a child goes missing.

Answer 6

Alerts are set to keep the community safe, so why the hesitation. The more the delay the less likely that the culprit is found. I truly believe authorities should take their jobs seriously to keep communities safe.

Answer 7

I couldn't agree more...the local authorities blew it. In my city, an amber alert is posted immediately.

Have they found the child yet????

Answer 8

Why don't you alert the media to the fact that it took so long to get action?

Answer 9

Lay out some facts and names so we all can comment rationally!!

Answer 10

the cops do as little as possable, so they can spend more time in the dough nut shop.
When some one is reported missing, they ought to get right on it. If it were one of their kids, I bet a swarm of cops would be on it yesterday.