| Informational Website: |
http://www.dps.state.ms.us/dps/dps.nsf/divpages/ci3amber?OpenDocument |
| Contact Person: |
Major Larry Waggoner
Email: lwaggoner@mdps.state.ms.us
Phone: 601.933.2604
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| Administrating Agency: |
Mississippi Department of Public Safety. |
Participating Agencies and Organizations:
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All state and local law enforcement agencies, the Mississippi Broadcasters Association, BellSouth. |
| Steps for Activation: |
Once the activation criteria are met a Police Chief, Sheriff or local law enforcement agency commanding officer must complete the Mississippi AMBER Alert! System Initial Reporting Form, sign the document and electronically mail or fax the form to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The Authorized Officer, or his designee, will prepare the announcement and then contact the designated radio station to activate the alert. Following the initial alert, an AMBER Alert! will be broadcast every thirty (30) minutes, during the first two (2) hours and every sixty (60) minutes thereafter for the next three (3) hours or until such time that an "end of alert" message is received from the authorized law enforcement agency. Local and statewide broadcast stations will exercise their own independent discretion to repeat the broadcasts more frequently and determine the frequency in which the alert is re-broadcast following expiration of the above-mentioned five (5) hour period following the initial alert. If new information is received or an update of information becomes available the five hour alert sequence will reset and start over from the beginning. The AMBER Alert termination notification will be broadcast 24 hours after the airing of the latest and most current information or when the case has been resolved and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol has received verification from the originating local law enforcement agency. |
| Scope of Amber Alert: |
Statewide. |
| Criteria for Activation: |
The following is the criteria that are used to make a determination regarding activation of the Mississippi Amber Alert System. Each case will be reviewed on its own merits and if there are extenuating circumstances these criteria may be amended or expanded depending on the merits presented: Is the abduction non-parental? Is the abducted individual under the age of 18 or mentally or physically incapacitated? Is there a threat of imminent danger to the child who has been abducted? Is there complete and specific information that could lead to the safe recovery of the child and/or the arrest of the suspect? |
| Utilizes Emergency Alert System: |
Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System (EAS), formerly called the Emergency Broadcast System, to air a description of the abducted child and suspected abductor. |
| Reporting Phone Number: |
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| Success Story: |
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