I thought AMBER Alerts were for abductions. Is there any evidence she was abducted? Is there any discretion in releasing a 17 year old on their own? I would agree she is an At Risk person is her mental state. Wearing shorts and crocs is probably not enough clothing - even in San Antonio.
In 2023, after 7-year-old Athena Strand was kidnapped and murdered, Texas passed legislation to make changes to the state's Amber Alert system. The new law ("Athena Alert") allows an Amber Alert to be activated by a local law enforcement agency if the head of that agency believes the child is in danger, even if the Amber Alert criteria has not been verified.
www.dps.texas.gov
New Law Makes Changes to AMBER Alert System
June 30, 2023
AUSTIN – Newly signed legislation is making changes to the existing AMBER Alert system to allow local area activation under certain conditions. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 3556 into law on June 13, 2023, and the law immediately took effect.
This law has been referred to informally as the “Athena Alert” bill, in honor of seven-year-old Athena Strand, who was kidnapped and murdered in Wise County in 2022. It allows law enforcement to request activation of the AMBER Alert system even if the criteria have not been verified. However, it is important for Texans to understand that the legislation did not create a new alert, and all alert messaging will continue to be referenced as an AMBER Alert.
Under the new law, a request for an AMBER Alert may be made by a local law enforcement agency that knows a child is missing but has not verified the AMBER Alert criteria,
and if the chief law enforcement officer of the local law enforcement agency believes that activation of the alert system is warranted. Under these circumstances, a local area AMBER Alert would be activated in the following areas:
- within a 100-mile radius of the location from which the child is believed to have gone missing or the location in which the child was last seen; and
- in all counties adjacent to the county from which the child is believed to have gone missing, or the county in which the child was last seen.
Law enforcement agencies seeking to activate a local area AMBER Alert will use the
AMBER Alert Request Form, which was updated shortly after the new law took effect.
When an alert has been activated, DPS asks all Texans to pay attention to alert messages and to be observant of their surroundings. If an alert is posted either on a highway sign or information is shared in other formats such as broadcasts or social media, take time to read and digest the information. Once the description of the child, suspect or vehicle is shared, be aware of possible matches. Texans should immediately call 9-1-1 if they have information to share with law enforcement.
www.missingkids.org
www.crimeonline.com
