{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-34.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-34.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-34.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-34.3.html"}],"law_id":65636,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65636,"structure_id":15183,"section_number":"52-34.3","catch_line":"Activation of Amber Alert Program upon an incident of child abduction","history":"2003, cc. 83, 86; 2004, c. 270; 2007, c. 130.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon receipt of a notice of a child abduction from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the implementation of the Amber Alert Program as the investigation dictates.B\n\nAmber Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local or regional Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the local or regional law-enforcement officials. Prior to making a local or regional Amber Alert, the local or regional law-enforcement officials shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the abducted child to the Virginia State Police. The initial decision to make a statewide Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police. The Missing Children Information Clearinghouse operated by the Virginia State Police shall serve as a central repository for information related to an abduction.C\n\nIn those situations where appropriate, the Virginia State Police shall send the Amber Alert to Virginia’s emergency alert system. Participating media are encouraged to issue the alert at designated intervals as specified by the Amber Alert Program.D\n\nIn those situations where appropriate and an existing system is available, the Virginia State Police shall contact the operator of the existing automatic dialing-announcing device system to target residents in the geographic location where the abducted child was most recently seen. For purposes of this section, “automatic dialing-announcing device system” means a device that (i) selects and dials telephone numbers; and (ii) working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, disseminates a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the telephone number called.E\n\nThe Amber Alert shall include such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the abducted child.F\n\nThe Amber Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Amber Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a child who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the child has been located.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238557,"text":"Upon receipt of a notice of a child abduction from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the implementation of the Amber Alert Program as the investigation dictates.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":238558,"text":"Amber Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local or regional Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the local or regional law-enforcement officials. Prior to making a local or regional Amber Alert, the local or regional law-enforcement officials shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the abducted child to the Virginia State Police. The initial decision to make a statewide Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police. The Missing Children Information Clearinghouse operated by the Virginia State Police shall serve as a central repository for information related to an abduction.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":238559,"text":"In those situations where appropriate, the Virginia State Police shall send the Amber Alert to Virginia’s emergency alert system. Participating media are encouraged to issue the alert at designated intervals as specified by the Amber Alert Program.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":238560,"text":"In those situations where appropriate and an existing system is available, the Virginia State Police shall contact the operator of the existing automatic dialing-announcing device system to target residents in the geographic location where the abducted child was most recently seen. For purposes of this section, “automatic dialing-announcing device system” means a device that (i) selects and dials telephone numbers; and (ii) working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, disseminates a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the telephone number called.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":238561,"text":"The Amber Alert shall include such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the abducted child.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":238562,"text":"The Amber Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Amber Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a child who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the child has been located.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15183,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Amber Alert Program","identifier":"7.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12841,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:46","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:46","permalink":{"id":237457,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15183,"identifier":"7.1","token":"52\/7.1","url":"\/52\/7.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12841,"edition_id":1,"name":"Police (State)","identifier":"52","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12841,"identifier":"52","token":"52","url":"\/52\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57818,"structure_id":15183,"section_number":"52-34.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/52-34.1\/","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.1","metadata":false},{"id":84348,"structure_id":15183,"section_number":"52-34.2","catch_line":"Establishment of the Virginia Amber Alert Program","url":"\/52-34.2\/","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.2","metadata":false},{"id":65636,"structure_id":15183,"section_number":"52-34.3","catch_line":"Activation of Amber Alert Program upon an incident of child abduction","url":"\/52-34.3\/","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84348,"structure_id":15183,"section_number":"52-34.2","catch_line":"Establishment of the Virginia Amber Alert Program","url":"\/52-34.2\/","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-34.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2003. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 83<\/a> and 86<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2004, chapter 270<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 130<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82227,"section_number":"19.2-60.1","catch_line":"Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-60.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":237467,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65636,"identifier":"52-34.3","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.3","url":"\/52-34.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-34.3\/","token":"52\/7.1\/52-34.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Activation of Amber Alert Program upon an incident of child abduction","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-34.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon receipt of a notice of a child abduction from a law<\/span>-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the implementation of the Amber Alert Program<\/span> as the investigation dictates. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Amber Alerts<\/span> may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local or regional Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the local or regional law<\/span>-enforcement officials. Prior to making a local or regional Amber Alert, the local or regional law<\/span>-enforcement officials shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the abducted child<\/span> to the Virginia State Police. The initial decision to make a statewide Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police. The Missing Children Information Clearinghouse operated by the Virginia State Police shall serve as a central repository for information related to an abduction. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In those situations where appropriate, the Virginia State Police shall send the Amber Alert to Virginia’s emergency alert system. Participating media<\/span> are encouraged to issue<\/span> the alert at designated intervals as specified by the Amber Alert Program<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In those situations where appropriate and an existing system is available, the Virginia State Police shall contact the operator of the existing automatic dialing-announcing device system<\/span> to target residents in the geographic location where the abducted child<\/span> was most recently seen. For purposes of this section, “automatic dialing-announcing device system<\/span>” means a device that (i) selects and dials telephone numbers; and (ii) working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, disseminates a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the telephone number called. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Amber Alert shall include such information as the law<\/span>-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the abducted child<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The Amber Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Amber Agreement<\/span>. Any local law<\/span>-enforcement agency that locates a child who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the child has been located. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACTIVATION OF AMBER ALERT PROGRAM UPON AN INCIDENT OF CHILD ABDUCTION (\u00a7\n52-34.3)\n\nA. Upon receipt of a notice of a child abduction from a law-enforcement agency,\nthe Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and\nprovide assistance in the implementation of the Amber Alert Program as the\ninvestigation dictates.\n\nB. Amber Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to\nmake a local or regional Amber Alert shall be at the discretion of the local or\nregional law-enforcement officials. Prior to making a local or regional Amber\nAlert, the local or regional law-enforcement officials shall confer with the\nVirginia State Police and provide information regarding the abducted child to\nthe Virginia State Police. The initial decision to make a statewide Amber Alert\nshall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police. The Missing Children\nInformation Clearinghouse operated by the Virginia State Police shall serve as a\ncentral repository for information related to an abduction.\n\nC. In those situations where appropriate, the Virginia State Police shall send\nthe Amber Alert to Virginia’s emergency alert system. Participating media\nare encouraged to issue the alert at designated intervals as specified by the\nAmber Alert Program.\n\nD. In those situations where appropriate and an existing system is available,\nthe Virginia State Police shall contact the operator of the existing automatic\ndialing-announcing device system to target residents in the geographic location\nwhere the abducted child was most recently seen. For purposes of this section,\n“automatic dialing-announcing device system” means a device that (i)\nselects and dials telephone numbers; and (ii) working alone or in conjunction\nwith other equipment, disseminates a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to\nthe telephone number called.\n\nE. The Amber Alert shall include such information as the law-enforcement agency\ndeems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the abducted child.\n\nF. The Amber Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Amber Agreement.\nAny local law-enforcement agency that locates a child who is the subject of an\nalert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the child has been\nlocated.\n\nHISTORY: 2003, cc. 83, 86; 2004, c. 270; 2007, c. 130.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}