About the AMBER Alert

In January 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bicycle in her Dallas, Texas neighborhood. A neighbor witnessed the abduction and reported it to the police in detail. Tragically, Amber's body was discovered four days later in a ditch, just four miles from her home. This heartbreaking incident led to the creation of the AMBER Alert system.

The Louisiana AMBER Alert plan is a coordinated statewide effort between law enforcement and broadcasters aimed at safely locating abducted children within the critical two-to-three-hour window following an abduction. It serves as an investigative tool and should not be relied upon as the sole means of recovery. Although the AMBER Alert system is a national initiative, there is no single unified plan across all states. Some states have statewide plans, while others operate on a regional or metropolitan level, resulting in over 100 independent plans nationwide. Many of these plans are not interoperable. However, the Louisiana AMBER Alert plan, which became operational in October 2002, can work in conjunction with other plans if requested.

Criteria

The AMBER Alert Plan is only activated after meeting the following criteria:

• Requested by a law enforcement agency.
• Only used for abduction cases involving children 17 years of age or under.
• The circumstances indicate the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
• There must be enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect’s vehicle.
• The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction (CA) flag must be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system by the requesting agency before an alert can be issued.
• The AMBER Alert Coordinator will cancel any alert or advisory at the direction of the requesting agency.

The AMBER Alert System should not be used for:

• Runaway cases unless evidence indicates an abduction.
• Custodial disputes unless credible risk of harm exists.

Important Aspects of the AMBER Alert Plan

• Supplementary Tool: The AMBER Alert plan is one of several resources employed in locating abducted children.
• Selective Application: The plan is used in specific situations and is not appropriate for all missing child cases.
• Not for Custodial Disputes: It is intended exclusively for abduction cases and is not meant for resolving custodial conflicts.

Request an Alert (LEO Only)

About the Level II Endangered Missing Child Advisory

If a case involving a missing child does not meet AMBER Alert criteria, a Level II Endangered Missing Child Advisory may be issued.

Criteria

This advisory may apply when a child (17 or younger) meets one or more of the following:

• The advisory is requested by a law enforcement agency.
• The child wandered away (young child or child with a developmental disability).
• The child is considered to be a runaway and in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
• A noncustodial parent took the child with no threat of harm.
• The child has been abducted with no description of the abductor or vehicle.
• Child must be entered into NCIC.

Important Aspects

• Supplementary Tool: The Level II Endangered Missing Child Advisory is one of several resources employed to locate endangered missing children.
• The Level II Endangered Missing Child Advisory does not utilize the Emergency Alert System and will not interrupt programming.
• The Level II Endangered Missing Child Advisory can be upgraded to an AMBER Alert.

Request an Alert (LEO Only)

About the Silver Alert 

In 2008, Louisiana created the Silver Alert Program to help locate missing adults with mental impairments, including Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The first few hours are often critical when a senior citizen or a person with developmental disabilities goes missing.

The Silver Alert Program helps law enforcement quickly identify and locate these individuals. It is managed by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and ensures that alerts are issued promptly to protect vulnerable adults.

Silver Alert Criteria

A Silver Alert may only be issued by the Louisiana State Police when local law enforcement requests to locate a missing adult who is domiciled in Louisiana, whose whereabouts are unknown, and who meets one of the following:

• The individual is believed to have a cognitive disability, and their disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety.
• The individual is 60 years of age or older at the time of the report, and their disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety.

Important Aspects

• Supplementary Tool: The Silver Alert is one of several resources employed to locate specific missing adults.
• The Silver Alert does not utilize the Emergency Alert System and will not interrupt programming.

Request an Alert (LEO Only)