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Activation Criteria

AMBER Alerts will not be activated for every child abduction and will be issued only when specific requirements are met. Requests for activation of the Alaska AMBER Alert system will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • The abduction involves a child or children under 18 years of age, or someone with a known mental or physical disability; and,
  • Local law enforcement is reasonably certain that an abduction has occurred and the victim is believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death; and,
  • Enough descriptive information is available about: the victim; the suspect; and/or the suspect’s vehicle to assist with the safe recovery of the victim and/or the apprehension of the suspect; and,
  • Information on the abduction has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) and flagged as a Child Abduction (CA) or AMBER Alert (AA).
**NOTE: AMBER Alerts are not to be used for Runaway or Family Abductions, unless investigation determines all criteria for an AMBER Alert is met.