Today, January 13, is Amber Alert Awareness Day. Since Montana began using the system in 2003, all of the children whose disappearance triggered an Amber Alert have been found.

"We've had 27 amber alerts and 41 children have been located," said Montana Attorney General Tim Fox,. "Unfortunately, three of those children were deceased. Having the amber alert system helps us to avoid those tragic consequences and get those children back to where they need to be. It also shortens the time for those situations so we don't have long-term traumatic circumstances."

Fox said there would likely be some improvements to the Amber Alert system later this year.

"You may have, perhaps, received a warning text on your cell phone, that went state when we had the last amber alert," Fox said. "We hope eventually to have a system that is more location centered so that we can get the word out to places that specifically need it."

Montana fifth graders have been invited to participate in the National Missing Children's Day poster contest. Posters must be original, handcrafted artwork; 8 ½ x 14 inches in size, with the words “Bring Our Missing Children Home” appearing on the poster. The application can be found here.

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