The Amber Alert: The Appropriate Solution to Preventing Child Abduction?

Both recent and past reported crimes against children have led the public to demand further safeguards for children. Media broadcasts of a rash of child abductions, molestations and homicides have led to a nationwide moral panic concerning the safety of children. The Amber Alert is the most recent form of legislation that has resulted from the public's concerns over child molestation and abduction. This paper outlines the history and activation process of the Amber Alert, as well as the challenges and advantages experienced by the agencies involved. A review of the Amber Alert provides the reader with information about the recently enacted legislation and answers questions on its applicability at the municipal, state and federal levels. Exposing both the practical drawbacks and the advantages allows both practitioners and academics to decide whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.