MIAMI -- A desperate mother is telling Local 10 that Miami Beach police, who had her teenage daughter in custody, put the girl back on the streets and possibly in danger.

The teen's name is Cassandra Hannigan. She is from Patterson, N.Y., and she is just 15 years old.

Her name, and especially her correct age, became issues one month ago when on Jan. 19 she was arrested on Collins Avenue by Miami Beach police who were conducting surveillance in an area known for drugs and prostitution.

She gave "Sondra Smith" as her name and said she was a prostitute. She also told police she was 18..

She was charged with loitering and prowling, and was booked into the Miami-Dade County jail, where she again said she was 18..

From there, she reportedly called her mother in New York, crying for help.

Her mother, Tracey Shaffer, said she was shocked to learn hours later that the jail allowed her 15-year-old daughter to be bonded out, perhaps to the very pimp who put her on the street in the first place.

"It really angers me tremendously," Shaffer said. "I feel like they made a mistake and they are not doing anything thus far to rectify it."

Corrections Department spokesperson Janelle Hall admitted that the girl was put in isolation after the mother told them her real age was 15, but said officials needed written proof from New York of the girl's age.

"There was no mistake," Hall said. "But that day things happened so fast that before anyone knew it, she was bailed out for $1,500."

Shaffer said New York police even called the jail operations officer requesting a hold on the girl, saying they had a warrant for her as a runaway.

Hall denies that call was ever made.

"No we did not get the call from New York saying she should be held as a runaway," Hall said. "No we did not."

The bail bondsman who reportedly bailed out Cassandra was Otis Tate.

A Local 10 producer did speak to Tate by phone, but Tate would not say who put up the money or where he thought the girl might now be.

So now, Cassandra's mother is left with nothing but worry because a month later she has still not heard from her daughter.

"I want to find my daughter," Shaffer said. "I am incredibly worried. I'm not even sure if she is alive right now."

According to Shaffer, in addition to the Miami Police Department and the New York Sheriff's Department, the FBI and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children have joined the investigation.