The Department of Justice has released new updated guidelines to help states and regional offices recover abducted children through America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts.
The updated AMBER Alert Program Best Practices resource guide, authored by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College, and published by the Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, provides a “what works” approach based on input of those who lead and oversee AMBER Alerts as part of larger missing persons and child protection programs at the state and regional levels.
Originally published in 2012, the 2019 second edition of the guide was announced by OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and National AMBER Alert Coordinator Matt M. Dummermuth during remarks given at the National AMBER Alert Symposium in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Technology, and our knowledge about what works in responding to child abductions, have evolved over the last seven years, and it’s time we give you a resource that helps you adapt to those changes,” explained Dummermuth.
“The new guide is organized around the life cycle of an AMBER Alert, so it connects best practices to each decision point in the response, from intake of a report to specific law enforcement actions and on to the elements that factor into an AMBER Alert coordinator’s decisions.”
“Protecting children—especially those whose lives are in imminent danger—is fundamental to the mission of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,” added OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp.
“This new resource will give our regional, state and local AMBER Alert partners the latest information, solicited from veteran public safety officials and seasoned experts, on how to respond swiftly and effectively to child abductions.”
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system.
To access the newly updated AMBER Alert Program Best Practices resource guide, go to http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/252759.pdf.
NCJTC Training Opportunities
For over a quarter of a century, The National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College (NCJTC), has served as a national leader responsible for carrying out some of the nation’s largest and most high-profile training programs funded through the Department of Justice.
Current initiatives include AMBER Alert, Internet Crimes Against Children, Missing and Exploited Children and Sex Offender Re-entry training and technical assistance programs.
Learn More…
(On January 13, 1996, nine-year-old Amber Rene Hagerman was abducted while riding her bike in Arlington, Texas. Four days later, a man was walking his dog near the Forest Hill Apartments, just a few miles from where the Amber had been snatched. At the bottom of a creek bed, he saw a child’s body. Amber Hagerman had been found. By 1999, the task force had been disbanded and the case had gone cold. The killer has gone undetected now for eleven years. 1996 the AMBER Alert was created. This is a tribute to Amber Hagerman and her family. Though she is not missing, her killer has not been found. Courtesy of Find the Missing and YouTube. Posted on Sep 20, 2016.)
DOJ Project Safe Childhood Honored in 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
Department of Justice (DOJ) Project Safe Childhood
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‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
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DOJ Project Safe Childhood (PSC)
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!
Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Desktop Alert, and Royal Holdings Technologies.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland SecurityAwards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
2018 Champions Edition
See the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition – ‘Best Products of 2018 ‘ Year in Review’ for in-depth coverage of the outstanding products and services of firms receiving American Security Today’s 2018‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards.’
Enter Early to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!
And be sure to Register Early for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East 2019 to ensure your place at this limited- space event!
Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Why American Security Today?
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 70,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
The old traditional security marketplace has been covered by a host of security publications that have changed little over many years.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that provides our readers with solutions to their challenges.
Our Editorial staff provides a full plate of topics for our AST monthly digital editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts.
The editorial calendar and AST’s high drawing website features 23 different Technology and Marketing Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities and Emergency Response among others.
These sectors are part of the new integration, where these major applications communicate with one another in a variety of solutions to protect our cities and critical infrastructure.
AST has Expanded readership into vital Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other Potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – enticing targets for extremist or lone wolf attacks due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
(Learn about how PCS Nationwide partner, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) as well as the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit (CEOS), is responding to the ever-changing threats to children online. Courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and YouTube. Posted in Oct 2018.)
Learn More about Project Safe Childhood along with Online and Texting Safety Tips for Kids and Parents
DOJ’s Project Safe Childhood Honored with 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Award
(CNN’s Gary Tuchman revisits the cold case of Amber Hagerman, who was the inspiration for the Amber Alert system. Courtesy of CNN and YouTube. Posted on Jan 18, 2011.)
