INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Hours after IMPD sent out a missing person advisory for 8-month-old Amiah Robertson, Indiana State Police issued a statewide Silver Alert for her disappearance.
That left many people wondering why police did not trigger an Amber Alert, which occurs for other missing children.
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police said initially, the family did not believe Amiah to be in danger, only that they hadn't seen her.
Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police.