SB 673 (Bradford – EBONY ALERT
SB 673 would establish an “Ebony Alert” to
address the often ignored or lack of attention
to Black youth and young women that are
disproportionately missing in California.
SB 673 provides law enforcement with an
additional tool, “Ebony Alert” to disseminate
timely, accurate information to engage the
public and the media to more effectively assist
with locating Black Youth and young women
that are missing person.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs, approximately
600,000 people go missing every year in the
United States.
Data from the 2019 United States Census
shows that people who are Black or African
American make up 13.4% of the United States
population. However, nearly 40% of missing
persons are people of color.
Black children make up about 38 percent of all
missing child cases and receive less media
attention to the fact that they are missing.
Black youth are disproportionately classified as
“runaways” in comparison to their white
counterparts who are classified as “missing”
and do not receive the Amber Alert.
In addition to making up a disproportionate
percentage of all missing people, and receiving
less media coverage, Black women and girls are
at increased risk of being harmed and
trafficked.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
report on human trafficking, also found in a
two-year study of human trafficking incidents
across the country, 40% of sex trafficking
victims were identified as Black women.
According to the FBI, 53% of all “juvenile
prostitution” arrests are Black children. There is
no such thing as “juvenile prostitution” — this
is sex trafficking, as juveniles cannot consent to
sell sex.
In California, the "Amber Alert," authorizes law
enforcement agencies to use digital messaging
on overhead roadway signs to assist in
recovery efforts for child abduction cases. As
of December 2020, the AMBER Alert system
had successfully assisted in the rescue of 1,029
kidnapped children.
One problem with the AMBER Alert system is
the strict criteria that a case must fulfill for the
message to be broadcast. If these guidelines
are not met, an AMBER Alert cannot be issued,
and the child is labeled as a runaway. It is
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
because of these criteria that many missing
Black children are pushed aside.
When a missing child is listed as a runaway,
they receive no media coverage, and less police
and government resources are available for
their recovery.
Being identified as a runaway can also be a
legal loophole for law enforcement, because
when a child is listed as a runaway, the police
are allowed to delay response and investigation
time.
This delay is crucial time that could be spent
locating a child in danger.
The Legislature intends to provide law
enforcement with additional tools to
disseminate timely, accurate information to
engage the public and the media to more
effectively assist with locating missing black
children and young women that are
disproportionately missing in California.
SB 673 would authorize a law enforcement
agency to request that an Ebony Alert be
activated if that agency determines that it
would be an effective tool in the investigation
of a missing Black youth or young women
between the ages of 12 – 25 years.
SB 673 would encourage, but not require,
television, cable, satellite, and social media
systems to cooperate with disseminating the
information contained in an Ebony Alert.
Sponsor: CA / Hawaii NAACP
None on File
Carolyn McIntyre
Office of Senator Steven Bradford
1021 O St., Room 7210
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4035
[email protected]
Christopher Morales
Office of Senator Bradford
1021 O Street, Room 7210
Sacramento, CA 95814
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