AMBER Alert Best Practices
Program, Process and Operations: Tools for AMBER Alert Program Coordinators and Other Key Outcome Contributors
Questions?
Email us at askamber@fvtc.edu, or contact your AATTAP Regional Liaison.
Outcome Contributors in a Child Abduction Event
Best Practices Reference Publications
AMBER Alert Best Practices Guide
Guidelines and important considerations for strengthening and continuously improving AMBER Alert Programs.
CART Certification Manual and Agency Guide
Process, capacity and capability standards as established by the US Department of Justice for CART programs pursuing formal certification by the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program.
CART Program Implementation Guide
Guidelines and important considerations for developing, implementing and sustaining a CART program.
Field Guide for Law Enforcement Officers
Provides high-level information on law enforcement's investigative response in relation to incidents of endangered missing and abducted children, and the AMBER Alert Process. The resource discusses key areas for further training, preparation and scenario/skill-based assessment.
AMBER Alert Best Practices for Public Information Officers (PIOs)
Best practice recommendations and other important considerations for Public Information Officers in working effectively with the media in endangered, missing and abducted child cases.
Research, Rulings and Findings
NISMART Research
Research summaries, bulletins and other important publications from OJJDP's NISMART initiative.
OJP and Washington State Attorney General Child Abduction Homicide Study
Information from the Washington State Attorney General's Office on the Child Abduction Homicide Study.
Rules of Professional Conduct for Alerts and Updates to the Public
As referenced by the American Bar Association (ABA), Rules of Professional Conduct When Releasing Alert and Update Information to the Public.
The 2003 PROTECT Act
The 2003 PROTECT Act. In addition to downloading the Act, you may learn more by visiting Congress.gov at https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/151.
Process Resources
AMBER Alert: Sample Process Map
This simple graphic provides an example of a process map depicting key roles, decision points and action to create effective programmatic motion when a child is reported critically missing or abducted.
Comprehensive Child Recovery Strategy Components
This simple graphic shows the three pillars of a comprehensive child recovery strategy and the important programmatic and operational considerations for each.
Outcome Contributors Ecosystem During a Child Abduction Event
This simple graphic shows the relationship of numerous stakeholders, or outcome contributors, during an endangered missing or abducted child event.
Telecommunications First Responders
Telecommunications Best Practices for Missing and Abducted Children (TELMAC) Training Course
Learn telecommunications best practices for supporting swift and decisive responses in the critical, early stages of incidents involving missing and abducted children.
This self-directed course is available 24/7 and allows you to work at your own pace as your busy schedule allows. The course is delivered across five modules which cover the nature of the problem, an overview of the APCO ANS1.101 standard and its call intake protocols, a detailed look at NCIC entry and update mechanics for missing child incidents, and important resources available for the communications center and the law enforcement agencies it serves in responding effectively to incidents of endangered, missing and abducted children.
APCO ANS 1.101: Standard for Public Safety Telecommunicators When Responding to Calls of Missing, Abducted and Sexually Exploited Children
Best practices, model policy and call intake protocols for 911/Emergency Dispatch personnel and patrol first responders when responding to missing and abducted child incidents.
Effective Use of NCIC: the National Crime Information Center Database - A Quick Reference Guide for Law Enforcement Telecommunications
A Reference Guide for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel in swift yet comprehensive and accurate use of the NCIC system to build, update and manage records in missing and abducted child cases.
Checklist for Public Safety Telecommunicators When Responding to Calls Pertaining to Missing, Abducted and Sexually Exploited Children
Published by NCMEC in collaboration with AATTAP, the US DOJ-OJJDP and other partners, this 911/Emergency Dispatch Checklist can be used as an operational companion resource to the APCO ANS 1.101.
Model Policy for Missing, Abducted and Sexually Exploited Children
The model policy published by NCMEC for law enforcement response to missing child incidents.
Model Policy - Addendum for Missing Children with Special Needs
An addition to the model policy published by NCMEC for law enforcement response to missing child incidents, focusing on important considerations for missing children with special needs.
Patrol and Investigative Response
Law Enforcement Field Response Checklists: Patrol, Investigative, Supervisory
Learn more about a series of law enforcement field response checklists for use in endangered missing and abducted child incidents. Download both full and condensed versions of checklists for patrol officers, investigators and supervisory officers.
Patrol First Response Checklist
A basic first response checklist for patrol officers when responding to the scene or family home of an endangered missing or abducted child.
Investigative Officer Response Checklist
A basic checklist for investigative officers when responding to the scene or family home of an endangered missing or abducted child.
Supervisory Officer Response Checklist
A basic checklist for supervising officers when responding to the scene or family home of an endangered missing or abducted child.
Patrol First Response for Missing and Abducted Children (PATMAC) Online Training
Learn law enforcement patrol/first responding officer best practices for supporting swift and decisive responses in the critical, early stages of incidents involving missing and abducted children.
This self-directed course is available 24/7 and allows you to work at your own pace as your busy schedule allows. The course is delivered across five modules which cover the nature of the problem, initial on-scene response, transitioning the investigation, and important resources available for your agency in responding effectively to incidents of endangered, missing and abducted children.
Sample Missing Child Data Form
A sample form providing examples of important information to be included in a Missing Child Data form. Nothing in this form should supersede or prohibit agency, department and/or jurisdictional policy, procedure or statutory requirements. CART programs are encouraged to develop their own forms with all required information, using this sample form as a starting point.
Sample Neighborhood Canvass Form
A sample form providing examples of important information to be included in a CART's Neighborhood Canvass form. Nothing in this form should supersede or prohibit agency, department and/or jurisdictional policy, procedure or statutory requirements. CART programs are encouraged to develop their own forms with all required information, using this sample form as a starting point.
Sample Roadblock Canvass Form
A sample form providing examples of important information to be included in a CART's Roadblock Canvass form. Nothing in this form should supersede or prohibit agency, department and/or jurisdictional policy, procedure or statutory requirements. CART programs are encouraged to develop their own forms with all required information, using this sample form as a starting point.
Sample Sex Offender Canvass Form
A sample form providing examples of important information to be included in a CART's Sex Offender Canvass form. Nothing in this form should supersede or prohibit agency, department and/or jurisdictional policy, procedure or statutory requirements. CART programs are encouraged to develop their own forms with all required information, using this sample form as a starting point.
Sample Subject Data Form
A sample form providing examples of important information to be included in a Subject Data form. Nothing in this form should supersede or prohibit agency, department and/or jurisdictional policy, procedure or statutory requirements. CART programs are encouraged to develop their own forms with all required information, using this sample form as a starting point.
Media: Broadcast, Web, Social
AMBER Alert Best Practices for Public Information Officers (PIOs)
Best practice recommendations and other important considerations for Public Information Officers in working effectively with the media in endangered, missing and abducted child cases.
Twitter and Facebook: for Developers
For AMBER Alert program and Law Enforcement agency IT/website departments, resource sites for developing optimal messaging and information management via Twitter and Facebook
Technology Information and Resources
IPAWS
Information on how alerting authorities interact with FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to feed data to EAS, WEA and other alerting systems.
EAS Contact Information by State
The Federal Communications Commission website provides contact information for each state's EAS Plan and State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) Chair. The AMBER Alert Coordinator should work proactively with the SECC to build relationships important to executing and strengthening AMBER alerting operations.
FCC Information on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
The Federal Communications Commission website provides comprehensive information on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and provides contact information for support.
State Transportation Department Contacts
The US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration website provides a complete list of links to each state's transportation departments. AMBER Alert Coordinators should establish key contacts with state DOT personnel to ensure continuity of MOUs/agreeements and any needed updates to planning as technologies evolve and roadway messaging infrastructure expands.
Fusion Center Locations and Contact Information
The US Department of Homeland Security website provides a complete list of links to each state's Fusion Center locations and contact information. Fusion centers are key outcome contributors in AMBER Alert Programs.
Virtual Command Center Tool - from the FBI's CJIS Division
The FBI's CJIS website provides a comprehensive overview of the Virtual Command Center resource - a real-time, web-based tool for securely monitoring critical incidents and other major events. The tool is accessed by official criminal justice personnel via the LEO.gov website.
Alerting and Messaging Resources
Report on Alerting Tactics - Science and Technology Directorate
From the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology, this Report on Alerting Tactics provides recommendations on effective combinations of alerting tactics for various incident types based upon lessons learned from practitioners. This report examines nationwide alert originator best practices for reaching communities; effective combinations of current and emerging alerting tools and practices to improve overall public response; and considerations for integrating future technologies (e.g. advanced sensor alerting) and technology platforms (e.g., Next Generation Television (Next Gen TV)) to address current alerting gaps and challenges.