Texas Amber Alert Network

Photo: Governor Rick Perry "When a child is abducted, every minute counts. That’s why I am implementing the Texas Amber Alert Network to ensure that every available resource is used to return abducted children safely to their loved ones.

The Texas Amber Alert Network gives law enforcement officers access to a powerful tool when a child has been kidnapped. The Texas Department of Public Safety will be in charge of the statewide system, but any Texas law enforcement agency will have the ability to activate this network of resources when needed. When the system is activated, media outlets will receive rapid notification of an abduction and the Texas Department of Transportation will flash messages on highway signs. This will allow caring and concerned citizens to become the eyes and ears of law enforcement during the search for a missing child.

While we know that abductions by strangers are rare, the Texas Amber Alert Network ensures that we are taking every precaution to protect our most precious and vulnerable citizens – our children."

- Governor Rick Perry

Activating the Texas Network

The Texas Department of Public Safety coordinates the network and is authorized to activate and deactivate the network for alerts that meet specified criteria. To activate the network, the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction must determine that the case meets the following criteria:

The child is 17 years of age or younger
The local law enforcement agency believes that the child has been abducted, that is, unwillingly taken from their environment without permission from the child's parent or legal guardian who commits an act of murder or attempted murder during the time of the abduction.
The local law enforcement agency believes that the missing child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death.
The local law enforcement agency confirms that an investigation has taken place that verifies the abduction and has eliminated alternative explanations for the missing child.
Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child, the suspect, or the vehicle used in the abduction.

Upon verification of the activation request, the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (DEM) determines the circumference of the search area and issues the alert. Alerts are distributed to:

National Weather Service's Texas Warning System (for broadcast on radio and television stations)
Texas Department of Transportation's Traffic Management Center (for messages on highway signs)
Law enforcement agencies
Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse
Texas Office of the Governor

View the latest Amber Alerts at Beyond Missing.

Protect Your Children

To help protect your child from stranger abductions:

Know your neighbors and your child's friends, including their names, addresses and phone numbers.
Know the routes your child takes to and from school, friends' homes and other activities.
Check the references and qualifications of child care centers and baby sitters caring for your children. Ask your child care center whether criminal background checks are conducted on staff members.
Teach your child what to do if approached by a stranger. Common approaches are: offering the child a ride, gift, or candy; asking the child to help look for a lost pet; or claiming that the child's parent has asked them to bring the child home.
Listen to your child; don't disregard their fears. Instead, let them know that you take their fears and concerns seriously.

For more information or tips on child safety, visit these sites:

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Polly Klaas Foundation