Be on the Lookout: How and Why Missing Person Alerts are Shared with the Public

This is the first in a series of blog posts, titled “Be on the Lookout" from the Virginia Beach Police Department. The series aims to dispel myths around missing persons cases, shed light on the legal limitations and challenges often faced when disclosing personal identifying information to the public, and offer insights that may be helpful to anyone who may ever need to file a missing persons report.   

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you receive a blaring alert over your cellphone or a recorded audio message regarding a missing person, while other times you see something on the news or social media well after the fact? It can be confusing navigating the different types of missing persons alerts and how they are communicated. It can be especially frustrating for those trying to locate their loved ones, in real time. 

Getting Started 

It’s important to remember that no two reported incidents are alike. With that in mind, the information covered in this series cannot be exhaustive and should be used as a reference, rather than a definitive guideline or policy. Additionally, this content is for informational purposes only and in no way should be considered legal advice. Procedures for handling missing persons differ for each responding jurisdiction, so keep in mind what is covered here may not pertain to other jurisdictions outside of Virginia Beach or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lastly, any examples given are hypothetical and do not relate to any real incidents or cases, unless otherwise stated. 

AMBER Alerts 

There are a number of different kinds of alerts that are recognized statewide for missing persons. This series also will discuss Senior, Ashanti, and CODI alerts. 

Perhaps the most well-known missing person alert is the AMBER Alert. AMBER is an acronym for “America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response.” In 1996, the AMBER Alert System was developed as a warning system to help find abducted children, first in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and then later adopted by other states. Today, it is used in all 50 states. 

AMBER Alerts are a type of wireless emergency alert (WEA), which are defined as short emergency messages from authorized alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEA is a partnership among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and wireless providers to enhance public safety.

In Virginia, the process to have an AMBER Alert issued starts at the local level. Local law enforcement agencies receive the report of missing child, aged 17 years or younger. They then must determine the type of missing persons case and whether they have enough information or supporting evidence to present the need for an AMBER Alert to Virginia State Police (VSP). Ultimately, the decision to issue an AMBER Alert is up to the VSP after review of the evidence and set criterion.  

What Warrants an AMBER Alert 

The following criteria determines whether a missing child case warrants an alert: 

• Law enforcement has a reasonable belief that the missing child has been abducted.
  • Abduction is defined as the act of taking someone away by force or deception or the unlawful removal of a child from its parents or legal guardians.
    • The terms “abduction” and “kidnapping” are often used interchangeably by law enforcement. 
  • Abductions do not always occur between a stranger and a child. Some abductions are carried out by a family member who has not been granted legal custody. 
• The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
• Enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction exists for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child. 
  • Descriptive information could include time and location of last sighting; physical description of the child including clothing, hair color, eye color, weight, unique or distinguishing markings or physical characteristics; whether the child has a cellphone, is traveling on foot or believed to be in a vehicle, a description of the vehicle if applicable, and more. 
  • This type of information is important for anyone to consider when filing any missing persons report, because it will aid in the identification and location of the missing person. 
• The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger. 
  • AMBER Alerts are only issued for children. If an adult (aged 18 years or older) is believed to have been abducted, an Ashanti Alert may be issued.
• The child’s name and other critical data elements have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. 
  • This is done by the local law enforcement upon receipt of the initial report. 

An AMBER Alert may be issued shortly after the initial report if the circumstances of the case clearly meet these criteria. In other instances, an AMBER Alert may be issued later, as the case unfolds and new information is uncovered that points to an abduction.

If all criteria are not met for an AMBER Alert to be issued, VSP may issue an alert called an “endangered child alert.” An endangered child alert is sent to news media outlets and is posted on social media for dissemination rather than as a WEA. 

More Information 

For more information about AMBER Alerts or other statewide-issued alerts for missing persons, visit the Virginia State Police website. 

Anyone can file a missing persons report at any time. There is no mandatory waiting period for reporting. Missing persons reports can be filed in-person at any of the four  Virginia Beach Police Department Precincts, by dialing 911 or the non-emergency line 757-385-5000. 

The Virginia Beach Police Department Missing Persons Unit works to provide a timely response, after being notified, in investigating calls involving a missing child or adult, runaway, abandoned child, abducted child, or unidentified at-risk persons, and assists in providing for the health, safety and welfare of these individuals. 

The unit partners with organizations that provide search and rescue operations for active missing persons and works with the Community Engagement Unit to provide assistance in registering at-risk residents in the project LifeSaver Program. It also investigates complaints of parental abductions and assists citizens with court custody orders.