AMBER ALERT SYMPOSIUM FOCUSES ON FAMILIES OF ABDUCTED CHILDREN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS

       WASHINGTON, D.C. - The sixth annual AMBER Alert Symposium, sponsored by the Justice Department, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) opened today in Tampa, FL. The symposium includes federal, state, tribal and local representatives from the United States as well as international partners from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

       Child abduction victims and their families, along with the latest information on human trafficking, Child Abduction Response Teams, uses of new technology, border coordination topics and the use of AMBER Alerts in tribal communities are major items of focus at the symposium. The parents of Jessica Lunsford, Elizabeth Smart and Samantha Runnion will join more than 40 family members to share their experiences and offer their insights on bringing abducted children home. These families’ discussions will help shape future training programs and contribute to a document outlining best practices and a victim perspective on responses to missing, abducted or endangered children.

       "Keeping children safe is our number one priority, and the AMBER Alert System is an important tool for all of us," said OJP's Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary. Ms. Leary is also the National AMBER Alert Coordinator. "When a child is lost or abducted we want everyone to be vigilant and aware. We need to be sure that our response is both swift and seamless."

       To date, 492 abducted children are home safely as a direct result of an AMBER Alert. All 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have AMBER Alert plans.

       The conference also includes information on the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Initiative that brings AMBER Alert programs into tribal communities. Approximately 20 tribes have AMBER Alert plans, and more than 600 tribal officials and community members have attended training or participated in technical assistance programs.

       Efforts are currently underway to bring the AMBER Alert program into Mexico through the AMBER Alert Southern Border Initiative. Hundreds of local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement officers from the United States and Mexico met this year in San Diego, CA and El Paso, TX, to train and discuss efforts to stop child abductions in both countries. On May 13, Baja California became the first state in Mexico to have an AMBER Alert plan.

       During today's keynote address, Ms. Leary presented awards to individuals who have made a significant impact in bringing abducted children home. The recipients are:

• Kerry Hammond received the "AMBER Alert Citizen Award" for responding to an AMBER Alert while driving a big-rig truck in southern Utah. Hammond called 911 after spotting the suspect's vehicle and police recovered an abducted 14-year-old girl.
• Aurora, Colorado Police Sgt. Joe Young received the "AMBER Alert Law Enforcement Leadership Award" for his efforts to recover Brianna and Alliyah Patterson who were abducted after their father murdered their mother. Young brought together numerous law enforcement agencies and used a tracking device to locate the suspect's vehicle and return the two young girls to safety.
• Utah Broadcasting Association President Dale Zabriskie received the "AMBER Alert Broadcaster/Media Person Award." Zabriskie helped set up Utah's AMBER Alert Plan in 2002 and has provided training, materials, time and money to strengthen partnerships among AMBER Alert broadcasters.
• AMBER Alert Coordinator Mark Hill with the Gila River Indian Community received the "AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Year Award." Hill brought AMBER Alert to his tribal community in 2006 as a pilot site for the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Initiative. Hill developed protocols and training that reflects Indian culture and has become a mentor for others developing AMBER Alert plans in tribal communities.
• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Margie Quin received the "AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Year Award." Quin became her state's AMBER Alert Coordinator in 2007 after spending years developing methods to track the cell phones of child abduction suspects. Quin has been working to get the Tennessee Child Abduction Response Team certified and has helped in the recovery of 22 abducted children.

           The AMBER Alert system began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children. The system was created in memory of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman of Arlington, Texas, who was abducted while riding her bicycle and later found murdered. AMBER Alerts are emergency messages broadcast when a law enforcement agency determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. For more information about the AMBER Alert program please visit https://amberalert.ojp.gov/redirect-legacy/.

           The symposium continues through Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Tampa Downtown, Tampa, FL.

###

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information can be found at https://ojp.gov

OJJDP010016