Texas Amber Alert effectiveness questioned amid surge in issuance

In Texas, the efficacy of Amber Alerts in safeguarding children has come under scrutiny, despite being widely hailed as lifesaving measures.

Steve Benefield, representing the Texas Center for the Missing, emphasizes the crucial role of Amber Alerts in rescuing abducted children. Over the years, their regional alerts for the Houston area have contributed significantly to the recovery of missing children, with approximately 49% of cases attributing the success to these alerts.

However, criminal justice professor Tim Griffin from the University of Nevada-Reno casts doubt on the effectiveness of Amber Alerts. Analyzing nationwide data from 470 alerts issued over three years, Griffin suggests that these alerts may not be as impactful as perceived.

Texas imposes strict criteria for statewide Amber Alerts through Texas DPS, including considerations like the child being taken against their will, immediate danger, and exhausted alternative avenues. Nonetheless, a recent law permits police departments to request regional Amber Alerts without meeting all criteria, solely based on a belief of imminent danger to the child.

While only six regional Amber Alerts were issued by the Texas Center for the Missing in 2023, the number has increased to seven in the first four months of this year. Griffin suggests that in cases where Amber Alerts are effective, traditional law enforcement measures might have sufficed.

Griffin concludes that Amber Alerts may inadvertently serve as mere “crime control theatre,” raising questions about their actual impact in ensuring child safety.