Changes Made To Mogan Nick/Amber Alert
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Arkansas` missing child alert system -- the
Morgan Nick Alert -- will now be used for anyone 17 years old and
under.
The previous policy applied alerts to children younger than 13,
but Attorney General Mike Beebe says most states surrounding
Arkansas use the under 18 limit. Beebe says Arkansas needs to be in
line with other states so interstate alerts will be more effective.
Most alerts involving teenagers from 13 years old to 17 years
old will be considered a level two alert, which is an e-mail
notification instead of a radio and television broadcast alert.
Beebe says the e-mails should be less obtrusive and keep from
flooding the alert system with runaways.
Officials also said they are changing the name of the system to
the Morgan Nick Amber Alert, so that it is easily recognizable
nationwide. The Amber alert system began in 1996 when Texas
broadcasters teamed with local police to rapidly publicize child
abductions.
