 |
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BRAD HENRY The Amber Plan Oklahoma’s Early Warning System to prevent Child Kidnappings |
|
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BRAD HENRY The Amber Plan Oklahoma’s Early Warning System to prevent Child Kidnappings |
THE AMBER PLAN’S REQUIREMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Amber Plan requires law enforcement to meet two criteria when evaluating a child abduction. Police departments must have both parts of the scenario present before an activation can occur. The guidelines are as follows: The "Amber Plan" should be activated when a child 17 years of age or younger, or an individual under proven mental or physical disability is abducted and there is reason to believe the victim is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.* AND... There is information available to disseminate to the general public which could assist in the safe recovery of the victim and/or the apprehension of a suspect. *The word "abducted" is still a cause of concern and should be addressed. Law enforcement should make every attempt to verify that an actual abduction has taken place, but some margin for error must be tolerated. If the above guidelines are met except there is no concrete confirmation of an abduction, then the activation most likely should go forward. Each case under this scenario should be independently evaluated. 2. The Amber Plan is activated only when the specific requirements of the plan are met as outlined above; therefore, the Amber Plan is not activated for every child abduction or custody dispute.. 3. After receiving a report of a child kidnapping, the agency determines if the child kidnapping meets the requirements of the Amber Plan. If it does, the agency contacts the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to request activation of the Amber Plan. DPS then activates the system through Clear Channel Communications and the information is broadcast over the State Emergency Alert System by DPS.. 4. When the Department of Public Safety activates the system through Clear Channel Communications and the information is broadcast over the State Emergency Alert system by DPS, it will immediately be delivered to all radio stations and television stations in Oklahoma. Although the Amber Alert goes out only once via the State EAS system, participating stations should then announce the information every half hour for the next two hours, then one time per hour for the next three hours. If the child is recovered during the activation period of the alert, the reporting agency must notify the Department of Public Safety. It is the responsibility of the individual radio and television stations to follow-up with DPS regarding cancellations or additional information about the abduction. To obtain this information, stations should call (405) 297-1288. Cancellations and updates should also be posted on the Highway Patrol wire. By broadcasting frequent public alerts, descriptions and other vital information in the crucial first hours after a child abduction, we can enlist citizens in an effort to recover the child unharmed. Since the activating agency will receive a very high volume of calls almost immediately after activation, each agency is required to have a phone line capable of "rolling over" into two additional lines available, along with volunteers or personnel on duty to receive the calls. All incoming calls from citizens with information regarding the abduction to participating stations should be directed to their local police department. Requirements For Participating Law Enforcement Agency: 1. Must have AT LEAST ONE (1) DESIGNATED REPORTING OFFICER 2. MUST HAVE AN ASSIGNED PHONE NUMBER THAT CAN ROLL OVER INTO AT LEAST TWO (2) SEPARATE LINES to take the phone calls if the Amber Plan is activated. 3. MUST HAVE VOLUNTEERS OR PERSONNEL TO TAKE THE PHONE CALLS FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS if the plan is activated, or until the alert is canceled. 4. AGENCY MUST SUBMIT SUPPORTING REPORTS for activation of the Amber Plan to the Amber Plan Committee within 30 days of activation. 5. Must have ADOPTED A WRITTEN POLICY which deals with the operation of the Amber Plan. 6. Agency must AGREE TO IDENTIFY PLAN REPORTING OFFICERS and FILE OFFICER’S NAME WITH THE COMMITTEE. 7. Agency must agree to PROVIDE REPORTING OFFICER WITH PROPER TRAINING on a yearly basis.
|