Washington State - Statewide Amber Plan
History
In January 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas. A neighbor was able to provide details about the car and abductor to law enforcement officials, but no system was in place to get the information to local residents quickly. Amber's body was found four days later.
Amber's death drew the community together and "hoping to prevent a similar tragedy" they contacted local radio stations and asked that information about abducted children be broadcast immediately. From this community effort, the criteria and cooperation necessary for the Amber Plan was instituted.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide recognize time as one of the most crucial elements when a child is abducted. According to a 1997 study, 74 percent of the children who are abducted and later found murdered were killed within the first three hours after being taken.2
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2 Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation: Executive Summary. Olympia, Washington: Office of the Attorney General (State of Washington) and U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, May 1997, page 3.
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