2013 AMBER Alert Report: Analysis of AMBER Alert Cases in 2013

• NCJ Number: 249754
• Date Published: May 2014
• Length: 42 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-MC -FX-K001
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Statistics; Report (Grant Sponsored)

Annotation

This report presents information about AMBER Alerts (use of the Emergency Alert System to notify and enlist the support of the public shortly after a child is believed by law enforcement to have been abducted) issued throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, and intaked by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Abstract

Although an AMBER Alert case may be activated in multiple jurisdictions, this report accounts only for Alerts in the State/Territory of first activation. Cases are analyzed according to the case type for which the AMBER Alert was issued, rather than the case type at the time of the child's recovery. The policies and procedures for issuing an AMBER Alert are explained. Cases are classified according to four designated categories: family abduction; non-family abduction; lost, injured, or otherwise missing; and endangered runaway. The report indicates that during 2013, 194 AMBER Alerts were issued in the United States, which involved 243 children. The categories of the cases are indicated. Of these 194 AMBER Alerts, 41 involved a successful recovery of the child as a direct result of the AMBER Alert being issued. As of the writing of this report, 3 of the cases remained active, and 11 children were deceased when recovered. Sixty-two percent (n=121) of the AMBER Alerts were issued throughout a State or Territory; 36 percent were issued regionally; and 2 percent were issued locally. Data are also provided on cases in which hoaxes were involved. Data report the number and characteristics of abductors, including any known relationship with the child victim. Data on cases are reported by month and jurisdiction, and time periods between the missing report and recovery are indicated. 4 tables and 23 figures