What is a clear alert in texas?

In Texas, a "Clear Alert" is a system used to issue emergency notifications about abducted children. It's similar to an Amber Alert, but with some key differences:

• Focus: While Amber Alerts are used for child abductions where the child is believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, Clear Alerts are used for abductions where the child is not believed to be in immediate danger of serious harm. This means the child may have been abducted by a parent or guardian in a custody dispute, for instance.

• Criteria: The criteria for issuing a Clear Alert are less stringent than for an Amber Alert. Law enforcement must still believe a child has been abducted, but the urgency level is lower.

• Information Dissemination: Clear Alerts are disseminated through various channels, similar to Amber Alerts, which include highway message boards, news media outlets, and potentially through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system on cell phones. However, due to the lower urgency, they may not be as widely disseminated.

• Less Intrusive: Because the threat level is considered lower than an Amber Alert, a Clear Alert's dissemination might be more targeted geographically or to specific media outlets.

In short, a Clear Alert in Texas signifies a child abduction, but with a lower level of immediate danger than an Amber Alert would suggest. The goal is to gather information to help locate the child safely.