What are the criteria for activation?
1. Law enforcement must confirm a child has been abducted.
2. The child must be under the age of 16 or have a proven
mental or physical disability.
3. Law enforcement must believe the child is in danger of
serious bodily harm or death.
4. There is enough descriptive information about the child,
abductor, and/or suspect’s vehicle to believe an
immediate broadcast alert will help.
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How does the process work?
The investigating local law enforcement agency contacts
the Illinois State Police providing details of the abduction.
If the AMBER Notification Plan criteria are met, activation
is initiated. The Illinois State Police then ensures
the child abduction information is disseminated to the
broadcast community through the National Weather Service
NOAA Weather Radio and secondary blast fax/email, posted
here and on all Illinois state websites, and the information
displayed on Department of Transportation and Tollway
roadway message boards.
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What is the public's role in the plan?
The public can play an important role in the recovery of
a child, as they can be the eyes and ears in a child
abduction. If a listener sees the child, abductor and/or
vehicle in question, the listener should contact their
local law enforcement agency or 911 with the information
to include location, street address or highway, clothing
description, physical characteristics, any observable
behaviors on the part of the abductor or child and the
time caller witnessed sighting.
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How long has the plan been around?
Illinois’ AMBER Notification Plan has been in effect
since January 30, 2002.
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What area does the alert cover?
Illinois alerts are issued statewide.
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What is the role of the media?
Once the child abduction information is received through
the National Weather Service and/or secondary dissemination
of email or fax, radio and television stations have the
option on whether or not to re-broadcast the information.
Large audiences can be reached through the media, thereby
enhancing everyone's efforts in safely recovering an
abducted child.
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