Sample AMBER poster

AMBER Alert Guidelines

The New York State AMBER Alert Plan can be activated when an investigating law enforcement agency confirms that:

  1. An abduction of a child (under the age of 18) has occurred, and
  2. The child is believed to be in danger of serious bodily harm or death, either due to the actions of another or due to a proven mental or physical condition.

Even if formal activation criteria have been met, activation may be impractical if available information is not specific enough and/or an extended period of time passed since the disappearance.

For example, an AMBER Alert specifying involvement of a white van (without a license plate number) could actually hinder an investigation by causing the public to inundate police agencies with possible sightings.

Notes:

  1. "Confirms" is defined as having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abducted. While confirmation is usually established through eyewitness accounts, eliminating other possibilities through investigation can also be used to reasonably conclude that a child has been abducted.
  2. Familial abductions qualify only if a child is endangered by the actions of the abducting family member.
  3. Whenever the NYSP COMSEC declines to issue an AMBER Alert, requesting agencies are referred to the NYS DCJS Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse (MECC) for possible issuance of a Missing Child/College Student Alert and to other NYSP investigative resources.