Donna Norris
Encyclopedia
Donna Norris has been a child safety campaigner since the murder of her 9-year-old daughter Amber Hagerman
in 1996.
Amber (25 November 1986–17 January 1996) was a victim of abduction and murder. On 13 January 1996, she was riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas
when she was kidnapped. Her murder inspired the creation of the AMBER Alert
system and the "Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act" (which was not passed). Among the sections of the bill was one that would create a national sex offender registry. Norris was present when President Bill Clinton signed into law the bill, known as Megan's Law
, creating the US national sex offender register.
Norris said of the alerts that "It's bittersweet because Amber has saved so many children's lives so far," Norris said. "It's awesome, it's great, but I can't help but think what if there was an Amber Alert when she went missing?"
Norris has campaigned for stricter laws regarding sex offenders and testified before Congress in order for a nationwide sex offender database and registry to be formed. She sits on the Board of Directors for The Tiponi Foundation, a charity which helps families of missing children. She is a partner in Amber Child Safety Systems, LLC since January 2010.
Amber Hagerman
Amber Rene Hagerman was a young girl who became a victim of an abduction and murder. On January 13, 1996, she was riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas, and was kidnapped soon thereafter...
in 1996.
Amber (25 November 1986–17 January 1996) was a victim of abduction and murder. On 13 January 1996, she was riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
when she was kidnapped. Her murder inspired the creation of the AMBER Alert
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
system and the "Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act" (which was not passed). Among the sections of the bill was one that would create a national sex offender registry. Norris was present when President Bill Clinton signed into law the bill, known as Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
, creating the US national sex offender register.
Norris said of the alerts that "It's bittersweet because Amber has saved so many children's lives so far," Norris said. "It's awesome, it's great, but I can't help but think what if there was an Amber Alert when she went missing?"
Norris has campaigned for stricter laws regarding sex offenders and testified before Congress in order for a nationwide sex offender database and registry to be formed. She sits on the Board of Directors for The Tiponi Foundation, a charity which helps families of missing children. She is a partner in Amber Child Safety Systems, LLC since January 2010.