Was the Amber Alert inappropriate for the Isabel Celis missing child case?

Was the Amber Alert inappropriate for the Isabel Celis case?  You be the judge. 

You can view the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to see current Amber Alerts and missing children information.

The organization is currently involved in the Isabel Celis case (per the link from Arizona’s Amber Alert system, and their description.   The current poster featuring Isabel Celis states this is a non-family abduction.

I recommend a visit to the following government website to find out the basic recommended criterion for an Amber Alert:

http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm.

Below is their synopsis of the national recommended criteria, which emphasizes the use of discretion and judgment by law enforcement to determine whether an Amber Alert should be issued.  The rationale behind this is that an Amber Alert can be “overused and/or abused”.  So, if the Alert is issued let’s say, anytime a child under 7 is missing, the public might start ignoring these alarms – that’s how the thinking goes.  I guess.   I don’t agree, do you?

Summary of Department of Justice Recommended Criteria

· There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that abduction has occurred.

· The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

· There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.

· The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.

· The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system

Each state also has their own articulated guidelines, all different – some States issuing alerts only for children under 16, some for children under 10 only. 

To see Arizona's Amber Alert Criteria, go to:

Please pass on the NCMEC poster below.  Pictures do work.  More later on how you can help.

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&LanguageCountry=en_US&searchLang=en_US&caseLang=en_US&orgPrefix=NCMC&caseNum=1193092&seqNum=1

View Poster Case Handled By: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

ISABEL M. CELIS
Case Type: Non Family Abduction
DOB: Aug 27, 2005	Sex: Female
Missing Date: Apr 20, 2012	Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 6	Height: 3'8" (112 cm)
Missing City: TUCSON	Weight: 44 lbs (20 kg)
Missing State : AZ	Hair Color: Lt. Brown
Missing Country: United States	Eye Color: Hazel
Case Number: NCMC1193092
Circumstances: Both photos shown are of Isabel. She was last seen at home at approximately 11:30 p.m. on April 20, 2012. Isabel is missing one top and one bottom tooth. She was last seen wearing a blue tank top and navy blue basketball shorts.

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&LanguageCountry=en_US&searchLang=en_US&caseLang=en_US&orgPrefix=NCMC&caseNum=1193092&seqNum=1

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

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