According to the plan, area radio and television stations would interrupt programming to broadcast information about the missing child using the Emergency Alert System, formerly known as the Emergency Broadcast System. When an alert is activated, law enforcement agencies throughout Vermont immediately gain the assistance of listeners and viewers.
Governor Douglas said that speed is an essential element of any effort to rescue an abducted child. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 74 percent of the children who were kidnapped and later found murdered were killed within the first 3 hours after being taken.
"It is imperative that we are able to channel our law enforcement and communication resources quickly to spread the word of a child abduction," Douglas said. "Vermont's new AMBER Alert system will allow us to engage all of our communities in the effort to locate the child and the suspect," he added.
On April 30 of this year, President Bush signed federal legislation creating a national AMBER Alert network. This package included several provisions authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, Leahy moved the AMBER Alert Network Act through the Senate and worked to get it through the Senate and House again this year.
"Vermont is grateful for the work that Senator Leahy has done," Douglas said.
"This new law is good news for children and their families and bad news for those who prey on kids," said Leahy. "AMBER Alerts work, and they will be more effective with this national approach. I commend Vermont's law enforcement leaders for working to include our state in this program."
Since 1996, AMBER Alerts have helped rescue 70 children from their abductors nationwide by using broadcasters, law enforcement officials, road signs and a variety of other tools to publicize information about child abductions.
"The AMBER alert system sends a strong message to predators; we are prepared to protect our children," Douglas said. "Vermont will respond swiftly and decisively to child abductions."
