WHAT IS JASMINE ALERT?
It is a program that helps the police and the community to find children 17yrs and under who have been kidnapped/enticed and child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
The Jasmine Alert was established in memory of Jasmine Lowe, a thirteen year old girl of Santa Elena Town who was abducted/ kidnapped, and brutally murdered in June of 2012 in the Cayo District of Belize.
BelizeCan’s President: Prof. P.R. Menzies met with Members of the Executive Body, who, with the support of other Local Groups agreed to push for the adoption of an Early Warning System for Child abduction/kidnapping Cases.
This program was launched on 31 July 2012, by the Jasmine Alert Team, in conjunction with the Belize Police Department's Community Policing Unit.
The Jasmine Alert Program is modeled off the very successful Amber Alert Program of the USA (which is now also in Jamaica, Mexico, U.K., Canada, Spain etc…), and has thereby received the support of the private sector here in Belize.
The Jasmine Alert program is registered, and thru the help of the Houston Police Department, the Executive Director was able to successfully present, promote and launch it in partnership with the Ministry of National Security, the Commissioner of Police and the Community Policing Unit.
It is Everyone's Duty to Rescue Our Children!
Remember that "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) It is hereby expected that ALL BELIZEANS and Residents of Belize will consider it OUR Duty to participate fully with Law Enforcement in implementing this Alert, and aid them fully in the apprehension of any perpetrator in such cases!
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS |
Possible Text/SMS of a Jamsine Alert |
Guidelines for Issuing JASMINE Alerts
Every successful JASMINE plan contains clearly defined activation criteria. The following guidance is designed to achieve a uniform, interoperable network of plans across the country, and to minimize potentially deadly delays because of confusion among varying jurisdictions. The following are criteria recommendations:
- There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction/kidnapping has occurred.
- The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction/kidnapping for law enforcement to issue a Jasmine Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
- The abduction/kidnapping is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
- The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction/kidnapping flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (SIMS) system.
The following illustration outlines what occurs after a Jasmine Alert is confirmed.
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The Task of Prevention:
It is hereby urged that ALL Residents of Belize will consider it OUR Duty to participate completely with Law Enforcement in implementing this Alert, and aid them fully in the rescue of any/all our children in such cases!
The need for a change in our status-quo is therefore evident. This requires prudent measures; obligating all sectors of society to work together to achieve a common but necessary good. All sectors of society are Stakeholders in the community in which they operate and/ or influence whether through the supply of its Workforce, its local business operation in any Belizean Community or otherwise. Everyone is responsible!
The Jasmine Alert Program together with BeliCorps Volunteer Corps (NGO), have teamed up to create a win-win-win-win Child Safety Educational Outreach Program; which includes the four most elementary but necessary, sectors of society. This Joint effort includes Law Enforcement, Academia (Schools at all levels and Churches), Civil Society and the Private Sector (Businesses operating in Belize).
THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Many business entities operating in Belize have been and continue to be responsible stakeholders in the communities in which they operate, be it on a local or national scale.
Private Sector plays a key role in the financing of the PREVENTION efforts of this program, by either sponsoring an identified portion/phase of it, or by providing necessary goods and/or services to aid in its effectiveness. Financing is done either through partial or complete sponsorship of a particular phase, good or service.
THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY(NGO's & Community Organizations)
The Jasmine Alert Program will work hand in hand with community programs and NGOs such as Neighborhood Watches, Peoples Coalitions, Missing Children Advocates, National and International Organizations for the Protection of Children.
The goal of this partnership is to avoid duplication of efforts in the Education Process and the empowerment of our Children and Youths to stand together against Child Predators.
Civil Society is being called upon to help with the Education Process (Prevention) of our communities nationwide.
THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
The Jasmine Alert Program will work hand in hand with community programs and NGOs such as Neighborhood Watches, Peoples Coalitions, Missing Children Advocates, National and International Organizations for the Protection of Children.
The goal of this partnership is to avoid duplication of efforts in the Education Process and the empowerment of our Children and Youths to stand together against Child Predators.
Civil Society is being called upon to help with the Education Process (Prevention) of our communities nationwide.
THE ROLE OF ACADEMIA
The Jasmine Alert Program will work hand in hand with Schools and Churches across our nation, to Empower our Children through knowledge of what situations to avoid, and how to react in the event of an Abduction/kidnapping or Enticement. Our future generations must know how to respond if they themselves are victims or witness any attempt by Perverts to harm one of those little ones.
Academia will aid in the dissemination of Prevention Materials and the Signing of The Responsibility Contract between children and their Parents/Guardians.
MEDIA - BROADCASTERS
Radio stations and Television Stations in the AREA of ABDUCTION/KIDNAPPING will play the Alert tone (as with hurricanes – and national emergencies) – notifying the public of a possible ABDUCTION/KIDNAPPING, and all the relevant information needed for the public to aid the police in apprehension of the perpetrator/s.
National Television and Radio Stations that have coverage in the area will also immediately broadcast the alert.
- Within 30 minutes of Abduction/kidnapping, the Alert will go to neighboring Districts.
- Within 1 hour of Abduction/kidnapping, the Alert will be sent across the Nation by ALL MEDIA HOUSES.
WIRELESS JASMINE ALERTS
The national Wireless JASMINE Alerts Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the Government of Belize’s Police Department, and the wireless industry, to distribute JASMINE Alerts to wireless subscribers who don’t opt out of receiving the messages and are able to receive text messages on their wireless devices.
BTL and SMART would send out a text message to ALL cell phones in the DISTRICT OF THE ABDUCTION/KIDNAPPING, within 5 minutes of notification.
Statistics show the first three hours after a child's abduction/kidnapping are most critical to recovery efforts. Recognizing that wireless technology can help galvanize communities to assist law enforcement in the search for and return of the child, the wireless industry in partnership with the Belize Police Department, offer the Wireless JASMINE Alerts Initiative.
By combining the efforts of the wireless industry with law enforcement agencies, the Wireless JASMINE Alerts Initiative will be a catalyst for tens of thousands of wireless subscribers to aid in the return of an abducted/kidnapped child; therefore adopting the ‘I am my brother’s keeper – philosophy.’
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES
Passenger Buses will be given a Poster from Law enforcement officials in the area of the Abduction/kidnapping, and across the country within an hour of the notification of the abduction/kidnapping or sooner. These posters would be Posted in the Buses (Public Transportation) and announced to the passengers by either Law Enforcement or the Conductor of the Buses. This is a call on the public to assist with the recovery of an abducted/kidnapped child.
DONATE
Partners' Circle: Join the Partners' Circle today and and become a partner in the fight against child abduction/enticement and sexual exploitation by donating automatically on a monthly or quarterly basis. Your ongoing contributions will help the Jasmine Alert Program to further improve the effectiveness of this Program.
Members of the Partner's Circle receive the quarterly e-newsletter, "Partners' Highlights," with updates of the Progarm's activities, success stories, action alerts and kidnapping/abduction prevention tips.
By joining the Partners' Circle you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are playing a vital role in the safety and protection of our kids. Every day of the year, through your ongoing support, you will help recover missing children, combat child sexual exploitation and give hope to families across the country.
How to Donate?
Click to DONATE NOW
***Remember – the child you help or don't help to save – may be Your Own! ***
STAY INFORMED
eNews Signup: By signing up, you will receive alerts via email with posters of children missing from yours as well as other areas of the Country. Help the search by printing and distributing posters in your community.
Follow us on Facebook: Jasmine Alert today.
REPORT IT
It is further hoped that ALL BELIZEANS and Residents of Belize will consider it OUR Duty to participate fully with Law Enforcement to ensure the effectiveness of this program, and aid them fully in the apprehension of any perpetrator in such cases!
REPORT A missing Child
Please report any information regarding a missing child by calling 911 or contacting the Jasmine Alert office at 667-3489. We are here to serve you 24/7 to receive any informing about reports of a missing child or "sightings" either by telephone or via the Internet on social media or email: secretary@jasminealert.bz.
REPORT If your Child is missing
If your child is missing, report it instantly. Please read the checklist below of actions to be taken by families in the initial stages of a missing child case.
What to do if your child is missing
- Immediately call your local Police Station.
- If your child is missing from home, search through:
- Closets
- Piles of laundry
- In and under beds
- Vehicles – including trunks
- Anywhere else that a child may crawl or hide
- Friends' houses
- Notify the store manager/ or security officer if your child cannot be found when in a store. Then immediately call your local police station.
When you call law enforcement:
- Provide law enforcement with your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight and descriptions of any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses and braces. Tell them when you noticed your child was missing and what clothing he or she was wearing.
REPORT Child Sexual Expoition (will be directed to the proper office)
SPREAD THE WORD
Join our Facebook or twitter community by Following us on our Facebook Page: Jasmine Alert and our twitter page: JasmineAlert and helps us display and share Missing Children banners and flyers on your pages.
You can also help by sharing our links: www.jasminealert.bz on your personal or company website.
JOIN OUR CAMPAIGNS
It has been rightfully said that one ounce of prevention is better than one pound of cure! With this philosophy in mind, The Jasmine Alert Program has embarked on the monumental PREVENTION task of Educating the Populous with a safety message and a Responsibility contract. Join our effort and volunteer. Send us your area of interest and contact info at secretary@jasminealert.bz
The DUAL-PRONG APPROACH:
It has been rightfully said that one ounce of prevention is better than one pound of cure! With this philosophy in mind, The Jasmine Alert Program has embarked on the monumental PREVENTION task of Educating the Populous with a safety message and a Responsibility contract; while working on the CURE – doing a Nation-wide Tour (at the request of the Commissioner of Police) to educate Law Enforcement Entities such as: The Police Dept., Coast Guard, Belize Defense Force, Immigration, Border Patrol and others!
The Task of Prevention:
The laid-back attitude that categorizes the Belizean Psyche must change to address the new reality worldwide of child predators and their devastating effects on our families and more importantly, our children!
The level of poverty and unemployment in Belize plays into the hand of child predators, who in many cases offer money, employment, or material goods in exchange for Sexual Favors! Parents and leaders in our society must step up to the plate and STOP this degradation of our society and PROTECT our children from this madness!
Both home-grown and imported predators have been operating relatively unrestrained by any real pro-active mechanism in our nation.
Members of our society can No-Longer turn a blind eye at Child-molestation and abuse! Conscience convicts and all Residents of Belize with blood flowing thru our veins are responsible to and for the younger generation! We cannot say: “It’s not my job to watch her!”
It is Everyone's Duty to Rescue Our Children! It takes a community to raise a child!
Remember that "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
It is hereby urged that ALL Residents of Belize will consider it OUR Duty to participate completely with Law Enforcement in implementing this Alert, and aid them fully in the rescue of any/all our children in such cases!
The need for a change in our status-quo is therefore evident. This requires prudent measures; obligating all sectors of society to work together to achieve a common but necessary good. All sectors of society are Stakeholders in the community in which they operate and/ or influence whether through the supply of its Workforce, its local business operation in any Belizean Community or otherwise. Everyone is responsible!
The Jasmine Alert Program together with BeliCorps Volunteer Corps (NGO), have teamed up to create a win-win-win-win Child Safety Educational Outreach Program; which includes the four most elementary but necessary, sectors of society. This Joint effort includes Law Enforcement, Academia (Schools at all levels and Churches), Civil Society and the Private Sector (Businesses operating in Belize).
This page is undergoing development...
Jasmine Alert - Support Organization (BeliCorps)
Program Director:
Prof. P. R. Menzies
Email: director@jasminealert.bz
Tel: (501) 629-0189
Webmaster:
Ms. Charity Yacab - Tel: (501) 665-7001
webmaster@jasminealert.bz
Coordinator - Belmopan Police Headquarters
Inspector Dehanne Augustine
Tel: 802-2222 – Ext. 6
Cell: 625-9847
Email: police@jasminealert.bz
coordinator@jasminealert.bz
Asst: Mrs. Hortence Hernandez
coordinator2@jasminealert.bz
Cell: 670-0744
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS
We recognize the responsibility and the role that stakeholders play in our communities and nation. A big thank you to the businesses that have partnered with us to ensure the effectiveness of this program!
BECOME A PARTNER
DONATE $10 IN RETURN FOR A BUMPER STICKER TO ASSIST WITH JA OPERATIONS & AWARENESS
To further this Awareness Campaign and fundraise at the same time, we are now offering a Bumper/House sticker in return for a $10 donation. This sticker once displayed prominently on your home, office or car will have a dual effect. Just as it serves to maintain the Operation of the Program, It also serves as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators, that the folks (Both Adult and Children) in that home, office or car, are aware of this Program, and would trigger an Alert if something inappropriate occurs.
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