AMBER Alert Symposium Focuses on Families of Abducted Children and Program
Developments
492 Children Safely Recovered Since Program Began
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The sixth annual AMBER Alert
Symposium, sponsored by the Justice Department, Office of Justice Programs
(OJP) opened today in Tampa, Fla. 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 reflect 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 www.amberalert.gov.
The symposium continues through Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Tampa Downtown,
Tampa, Fla.
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 http://www.ojp.gov.
OJJDP010016
SOURCE Office of Justice Programs - U.S. Department of Justice
Joan LaRocca of the Office of Justice Programs - U.S. Department of Justice,
+1-202-307-0703
