NCJ Number
249753
Date Published
July 2013
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This report presents information on AMBER Alerts issued throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, and processed by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Abstract
From January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012, a total of 167 AMBER Alerts were issued in the United States, which involved 204 children. At the time the cases were processed by NCMEC, 90 cases were labeled family abductions; 61 non-family abductions; 16 lost, injured, or otherwise missing; and no endangered runaways. Thirteen cases were later determined to be hoaxes, and seven cases were later determined to be unfounded. Of the 167 cases, 158 resulted in a recovery, with 52 recoveries occurring as a direct result of the AMBER Alerts being issued. As of March 6, 2013, when statistics for this report were finalized, two AMBER Alerts issued in 2012 remained active, and nine children were deceased when recovered. In 2012, 70 percent (n=117) of AMBER Alerts were issued State-wide or Territory-wide; 30 percent ( n=50) of AMBER Alerts were issued regionally, and none were issued locally. Data are provided for the following aspects of the AMBER Alert cases: Missing location, recovery location, international abductions, infants involved, success stories, time between activation and recovery for success stories, children recovered deceased, and children who were victims of sexual assault. Information and data are also provided for Team Adam consultant deployment, FBI involvement, command post use, and the National Crime Information Center. A comparison is presented for AMBER Alerts issued from 2008 to 2012, and a map of AMBER Alert activations is provided. 24 tables and 23 figures