Colorado
Alert Name: Missing Senior Citizen Alert Program
Requirements:
- “Missing Senior Citizen Alerts” must be requested by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction;
- An investigating officer who has reason to believe a missing adult meets the definition of a “missing senior citizen” may request a “Missing Senior Citizen Alert”.
- The subject must meet the definition of a “missing senior citizen”:
- He or she went missing while in Colorado;
- The missing person is 60 years of age or older;
- Confirmation law enforcement has received a signed statement from a family member, close friend, caregiver, doctor, or person at a medical facility that verifies the missing senior citizen has an impaired mental condition;
- The subject’s disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the person.
Connecticut
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Missing person between 18 and 65 years old who has mental health issues; or
- someone who is over 65.
Delaware
Alert Name: Gold Alert
Requirements:
- A senior citizen, a suicidal person, or
- a person with a disability is missing.
District of Columbia
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- A missing persons who are at high risk for injury or harm if they are lost or missing; such as,
- seniors with dementia and an adult of any age who has an Intellectual/Developmental Disability.
- For an alert to be sent out, the senior must be registered for the program. See the enrollment form below.
To receive alert notifications from the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency of DC, enroll here.
Florida
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The person must be 60 years and older; or,
- The person must be 18-59. Law enforcement has determined that the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and that using dynamic message signs may be the only possible way to rescue the missing person.
- Must have an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease or dementia) that has been verified by law enforcement.
To receive alert notifications from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, enroll here.
Georgia
Alert Name: Mattie’s Call
Requirements:
- A local law enforcement agency believes a disabled person is missing and is in immediate danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- Through its own investigation, the law enforcement agency verifies the disappearance and eliminates alternative explanations for the disabled person’s disappearance.
- Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the disabled person.
- The missing disabled person is entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
- The law enforcement agency must issue a statewide broadcast to law enforcement/911 centers and contact local media regarding the missing person.
To receive alert notifications from The Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB), contact GAB here.
Hawai’i
Alert Name: No Current Alert System
News:
- December 4, 2023: Hawai’i Public Radio news article promotes the importance of a Silver Alert Program in Hawai’i (here).
- February 13, 2020: A measure proposing a Silver Alert program for senior citizens with dementia is stuck down early in the Senate (here).
While there is no alert system, the police still have measures in place to locate missing people. Contact them as soon as you realize a senior is missing!
Idaho
Alert Name: Endangered Missing Person Alert
Requirements:
- Endangerment or imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death for missing persons such as;
- age,
- weather conditions,
- known abduction of a person over the age of 17, and
- any other factors the Law Enforcement believes the missing person could be endangered.
- There should be enough descriptive information about the missing person, vehicle, or suspect to believe that an EMPA will assist in locating the missing person.
- Missing person must be entered into NCIC.
To receive alert notifications from the Idaho State Police (ISP), register here and download the CodeRed App to manage your notification settings.
Illinois
Alert Name: Endangered Missing Person Advisory
The Silver Search Taskforce is a special program that helps to bring awareness, education, and resources to help return a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia home safely when they get lost. They use the Endangered Missing Person Advisory to help with this.
Requirements:
- Person missing qualifies as High Risk or Silver Search.
- Has Alzheimer’s or Dementia-like symptoms
- Affected by a Mental Impairment
- Eloped from a nursing home
- Missing under Suspicious conditions
- Is in a known dangerous situation
- No prior pattern of disappearing
- Law Enforcements judgment
- Person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disabilities, environment, weather, or in the company of a dangerous person.
- Person missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
- Public information is available to assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
- Does not fit criteria for AMBER Alert.
Indiana
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The person must be a Missing Endangered Adult, Missing Endangered Child, or High-Risk Missing Person; or
- Have a mental impairment validated through a credible medical authority (Physician, Physician’s Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner).
- There must be enough descriptive information to believe the broadcast will help.
- Request must be recommended by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction.
- Enter the person into IDACS/NCIC with the message key EME.
Iowa
Alert Name: Endangered Person Alert
Requirements:
- Is the person missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances?
- Entry into NCIC via the IOWA System is a mandatory requirement to proceed further.
- Is the person believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, weather conditions, or in the company of a potentially dangerous person or some other factor that may put the person in danger of serious bodily injury or death; and
- Is there enough information such as a current photograph/image of the person that issuing an Endangered Person Advisory could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person?
Kansas
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Suffering from dementia, or
- Over age 65, and
- The person has a reported medical or mental condition that may threaten, or greatly reduce, their ability to make sound reasonable decisions and/or may diminish their ability to survive without assistance, or
- The person has been determined to be a risk to harm their self.
- The person’s whereabouts are unknown and he or she is missing under circumstances not conforming to their normal routine or habits and may be in need of assistance or intervention.
- Care should be taken to be reasonably certain the person reporting the missing person is not using the system to locate another for reasons other than to assure their safety.
- For example, some people may attempt to use the system to find an adult who has voluntarily and knowingly chosen to go elsewhere away from the complainant or a domestic abuser may use the system to attempt to find their spouse.
- The investigating officer determines it is appropriate to request public assistance in locating the individual.
Kentucky
Alert Name: Golden Alert
Requirements:
- ANY person who has a known or reported developmental disability (including but not limited to autism), a traumatic brain injury, an organic brain disorder (including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease), physical, mental, or cognitive impairment and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person or is otherwise a critical missing person.
- A variety of other degenerative and cardiovascular disorders including:
- Senile dementia,
- Schizoaffective disorder and/or
- other disorders not listed here; and/or
- The lost/missing person has a history of a previous trauma-induced brain injury,
- The lost/missing person is or has a history of being prescribed mood or mind-altering medications and/or,
- The possibility that the lost/missing person is believed to be a danger to himself or herself.
Louisiana
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- “Missing person with developmental disabilities” is a person whose whereabouts are unknown;
- whose domicile at the time he is reported missing is in this state; and
- whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of himself, as determined by a local law enforcement agency.
- “Missing Senior Citizen” is a person whose whereabouts are unknown;
- whose domicile at the time he is reported missing is in this state; whose age at the time he is first reported missing is 60 years of age or older; and
- whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of himself, as determined by a local law enforcement agency.
Maine
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- a person who is believed to be in danger because of the person’s
- age,
- mental or physical health or intellectual or developmental disability,
- because of environmental or weather conditions
- or because the person is missing in dangerous, unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances as determined by a local law enforcement agency.
While Silver Alerts have been issued in Maine since 2010, new state legislation has passed that should provide better training, wider alert broadcasting, and a more refined procedure for law enforcement. [PL 2021, c. 62, §2 (AMD).]
Maryland
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The missing person is at least 60 years of age, AND
- The missing person suffers a cognitive impairment, including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, AND
- The missing person’s disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual, AND
- The missing person is traveling in a vehicle and there is enough descriptive information about the missing person and the vehicle for law enforcement to issue an alert, AND
- The investigating agency has already activated a local or regional alert by contacting media outlets in their jurisdiction, AND
- The missing person has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
To receive alert notifications from the Maryland State Police, register here.
Massachusetts
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- An adult with serious memory impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia is reported as missing.
Steps to Take:
- Communicate risks to police so that urgency is understood (advocacy may be required for police action)
- Ask about using local and state police social media pages to quickly spread the word
- Coordinate contacting local media outlets with important information about the missing person.
Michigan
Alert Name: Endangered Missing Advisory
Requirements:
- The circumstances of the endangered missing person DO NOT meet the AMBER Alert criteria, but
- the person is missing under suspicious unexplained circumstances; or
- the missing person is believed to be in danger because of
- age,
- health,
- mental or physical disability,
- environment,
- weather conditions, or
- in the company of a potentially dangerous person or some other factor that may expose the person to serious harm or injury.
- Public information is available that could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
There is a current push to develop a Silver Alert Program in Michigan (see news article here). Sign this petition to show your support for this life-saving program!
Minnesota
Alert Name: Brendon’s Law
Requirements:
- Law enforcement officials have received sufficient evidence that the missing person is at risk of physical injury or death:
- the person is missing as a result of a confirmed abduction or under circumstances that indicate that the person’s disappearance was not voluntary;
- the person is missing under known dangerous circumstances;
- the person is missing more than 30 days;
- the person is under the age of 21 and at least one other factor in this paragraph is applicable;
- there is evidence the person is in need of medical attention or prescription medication such that it will have a serious adverse effect on the person’s health if the person does not receive the needed care or medication;
- the person does not have a pattern of running away or disappearing;
- the person is mentally impaired;
- there is evidence that the person may have been abducted by a noncustodial parent;
- the person has been the subject of past threats or acts of violence;
- there is evidence the person is lost in the wilderness, backcountry, or outdoors where survival is precarious and immediate and effective investigation and search and rescue efforts are critical; or
- any other factor that the law enforcement agency deems to indicate that the person may be at risk of physical injury or death, including a determination by another law enforcement agency that the person is missing and endangered.
There is currently a bill being reviewed in committee that could set up a Silver a push to develop a Silver Alert system to aid in locating missing persons who are senior citizens with cognitive impairments for the state of Minnesota. Contact the Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee to voice your support for this bill (MN SF1454)!
Mississippi
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The missing adult, age 18 or older, is believed to have dementia or other cognitive impairments;
- The person is believed to be missing and in imminent danger regardless of circumstance;
- The family, legal caregiver, or custodian of the missing person has submitted a missing person’s report to the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the person became missing, with all waiting periods being waived; and
- The law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction of where the person became missing reports the incident to the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Public Safety through the Mississippi Highway Patrol Headquarters Communication Center.
- To initiate a request to activate a Silver Alert, the family, legal caregiver or custodian of the missing person must file immediately a report of the missing person with the local law enforcement agency where the person became missing that includes the following information:
- A description of the missing person including physical characteristics, clothing, and photos, if available;
- A description of the known circumstances under which the person became missing including the time, place, direction, possible destinations, whether the person is walking or in a vehicle, and all other pertinent information concerning where the person may have become missing; and
- Updates on the missing person as new information becomes available.
Missouri
Alert Name: Endangered Silver Advisory Plan
Requirements:
- The person is 60 years of age or older and believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
- A legal custodian of the missing person has submitted a missing person’s report to the local law enforcement agency where the person went missing.
- There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing adult.
Montana
Alert Name: Missing and Endangered Person Advisory (MEPA)
Requirements:
- Does the circumstances fail to meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert?
- Is the person missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances?
- Is the person believed to be in danger because of
- age,
- health,
- mental or physical disability,
- environment or weather conditions,
- in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or
- some other factor that may put the person in peril?
- Is there information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the missing person?
Nebraska
Alert Name: Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA)
Requirements:
- Do the circumstances meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert?
- Is the person missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances?
- Is the person believed to be in danger because of
- age,
- health,
- cognitive or physical disability,
- environmental or weather conditions,
- in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or
- some other factor that may put the person at risk for serious bodily injury or death?
- Is there enough descriptive information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the endangered person?
- Is it within 72 hours of when the person first went missing?
To receive EMA notifications by email or phone, click here to register.
Nevada
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Is the person 60 years of age or older and whose whereabouts are unknown: AND
- Is diagnosed with a medical or mental condition that places the older citizen in danger of serious physical harm or death; OR,
- who is missing under suspicious or unexplained circumstances that place the person in danger of serious physical harm or death.
- An investigation by the local law enforcement agency has taken place verifying that the disappearance is due to his/her impaired mental condition, and alternative reasons for the older person’s disappearance have been ruled out: AND
- The Silver Alert activation request has been made within 72 hours of the older citizen’s disappearance: AND
- There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the older citizen.
New Hampshire
Alert Name: Missing Vulnerable Adult
Requirements:
- Is 18 years or older;
- Whose whereabouts are unknown;
- Whose last known whereabouts at the time he or she is reported missing is in New Hampshire; and
- Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the person, as determined by a local law enforcement agency; and
- Who has a mental or cognitive disability, such as dementia;
- Who has an intellectual or developmental disability;
- Who has a brain injury; or
- Who has another physical, mental, or emotional disability?
New Jersey
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The missing person who is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive impairment, regardless of age and:
- Is operating a known motor vehicle.
- Is entered into NCIC as a missing person.
- Is believed to be in danger of death or serious bodily injury. The law enforcement agency must be able to substantiate or specify what causes this belief.
New Mexico
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The individual is a missing person whose whereabouts are unknown to the person’s custodian or immediate family member.
- The individual is fifty (50) years or older.
- There is a clear indication that the individual has an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another degenerative brain disorder or a brain injury.
New York
Alert Name: Missing Adult Person
Requirements:
- A missing individual who is at least 18 years old.
- Has a cognitive disorder, mental disability, or brain disorder.
To get alerts about missing seniors in New York, create an account and sign up here.
North Carolina
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Believed to have Dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Adult 50 years of age or older.
- Reported Missing to law Enforcement within 72 hours.
- Endanger of abuse, physical harm, neglect, or exploitation.
North Dakota
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The missing person involves a vulnerable adult as defined as an adult who has a substantial mental or functional impairment; or
- vulnerable elderly adult, who is at least 65 years old, who has been reported to law enforcement as missing.
- The missing person involves a minor who has developmental disabilities who has been reported to law enforcement as missing.
- There is descriptive information about the minor or adult and/or vehicle involved, to assist with the safe recovery of the person.
- There is enough usable information about the person and/or vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast will provide the public with descriptive information to help locate the person or vehicle.
Ohio
Alert Name: Missing Adult Alert
Requirements:
- The local investigating law enforcement agency confirms that the individual is missing.
- The individual is 65 years of age or older or has a mental impairment.
- The disappearance of the individual poses a credible threat of immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death to the individual.
- There is sufficient descriptive information about the individual and the circumstances surrounding the individual’s disappearance to indicate that activation of the alert will help locate the individual.
To sign up to receive alerts about Missing Adults in Ohio, please register here.
Oklahoma
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The person reported missing is sixty (60) years of age or older,
- the location of the senior citizen is unknown, or
- the senior citizen has dementia or other cognitive impairment.
Oregon
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- a missing vulnerable adult includes, but is not limited to a missing adult who has
- An impaired mental condition, such as dementia;
- An intellectual or developmental disability; or
- A brain injury.
Pennsylvania
Alert Name: Missing Endangered Person Advisory (MEPA)
Requirements:
- The incident circumstances do not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert, and
- The person(s) are missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances, or
- The person’s age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, places the missing person in peril of serious bodily injury or death, and
- If information is distributed to the public, it could assist in their safe recovery.
Rhode Island
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- A Missing Senior Citizen;
- Whose whereabouts are unknown;
- Whose age at the time he or she is reported missing is sixty (60) years of age or older, or is a person with a diagnosis of dementia;
- Who has an impaired mental condition;
- Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the missing person, as determined by State Police;
- The impaired condition(s) shall be demonstrated by the appropriate documentation presented by the missing senior citizen’s family, legal guardian, long-term care ombudsman, or long-term care facility where the person resides.
South Carolina
Alert Name: Endangered Person Notification System (EPNS)
Requirements:
- Law Enforcement confirms that the missing person is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
- Law Enforcement concludes that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the person’s welfare and safety or a threat to the public’s safety.
- A legal custodian of the missing person has submitted a missing person’s report to the local law enforcement agency where the person went missing.
South Dakota
Alert Name: Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA)
Requirements:
- Do the circumstances fail to meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert?
- Is the person missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances?
- Is the person believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or some other factor that may put the person at risk for serious bodily injury or death?
- Is there enough descriptive information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the endangered person?
To receive notifications in the case of missing persons sign up here for South Dakota Alerts.
Tennessee
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- A person whose age at the time the person is first reported missing is sixty (60) years of age or older,
- whose whereabouts are unknown, and
- who is believed to be in danger because of
- age,
- health,
- mental health conditions, or
- physical disability,
- in combination with environmental or weather conditions, or
- is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance;
- A person of any age who suffers from a documented case of dementia,
- whose whereabouts are unknown,
- who is believed to be in danger because of the dementia or a physical impairment, and
- is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance; or
- A person whose age at the time the person is first reported missing is eighteen (18) years of age or older;
- whose whereabouts are unknown;
- who has an intellectual, developmental, or physical disability; and
- who is believed to be in danger because of the disability, or
- is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.
Texas
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Is the missing person 65 years of age or older or been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Does the senior citizen have a diagnosed impaired mental condition, and does the senior citizen’s disappearance pose a credible threat to the senior citizen’s health and safety?
- (Law enforcement shall require the family or legal guardian of the missing senior citizen to provide documentation from a medical or mental health professional of the senior citizen’s condition).
- Is it confirmed that an investigation has taken place verifying that the senior citizen’s disappearance is due to his/her impaired mental condition, and alternative reasons for the senior citizen’s disappearance have been ruled out?
- Is the Silver Alert request within 72 hours of the senior citizen’s disappearance?
- Is there sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the senior citizen?
- (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the senior citizen was driving the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).
To sign up to receive alerts about Missing Seniors in Texas, please subscribe here.
Utah
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- A person 60 years of age or older or a person under 60 years of age who has a form of dementia is reported missing.
- “Dementia” means a person has a form of cognitive decline that significantly affects the person’s ability to make decisions and provide for health, safety, or self-care.
- This term includes Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia marked by the continual loss of memory and awareness of surroundings.
Vermont
Alert Name: Missing Vulnerable Persons Alert
Requirements:
- A person whose whereabouts are unknown, who is unable to protect themselves from significant harm; and
- is believed to be in danger of death or serious bodily injury due to an inability to be located safely; or
- an inability to return to safety without assistance.
To sign up to receive alerts about Missing Seniors in Vermont, please subscribe here.
Virginia
Alert Name: Senior Alert
Requirements:
- The missing senior adult is over 60 years of age and his or her whereabouts are unknown.
- The missing senior adult suffers a cognitive impairment to the extent that the adult is unable to provide care for himself or herself without assistance from a caregiver, including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia.
- The missing senior adult’s disappearance poses a credible threat as determined by a law enforcement agency to the health and safety of the adult, or other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.
- A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the senior adult is missing and eliminated alternative explanations by a thorough search of the immediate area if vehicular travel is not involved.
- Sufficient information regarding the missing senior adult is available to disseminate to the public to assist in locating the missing senior adult or their vehicle.
- The missing senior adult must be entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing person files, and information reported to the Virginia Missing Person Information Clearinghouse in the prescribed format.
- A photograph of the missing senior adult must be provided to the Virginia Missing Person Information Clearinghouse on the prescribed forms or agency equivalent.
See the VA Senior Alert Law Enforcement User Guide for more information on criteria, the activation requirements, the Senior Alert flowchart, and alert request forms that law enforcement will fill out.
Washington
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- Person age 60 and over who is missing and in danger because of age, physical or mental health, severe weather conditions, and not being able to return to safety without assistance.
- Enough information is available to assist in the recovery of the missing person
- Reported to and investigated by law enforcement
To sign up to receive alerts about Missing Seniors in Washington, please subscribe here.
West Virginia
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The person is believed to be cognitively impaired or is a senior citizen;
- The person is believed to be missing, regardless of circumstance;
- A person who has knowledge that the person is missing has submitted a missing person’s report to the State Police or other appropriate law enforcement agency;
- The missing person may be in danger of death or serious bodily injury;
- The missing person is domiciled or believed to be located in the State of West Virginia;
- The missing person is, or is believed to be, at a location that cannot be determined by an individual familiar with the missing person, and the missing person is incapable of returning to the missing person’s residence without assistance; and
- There is sufficient information available to indicate that a Silver Alert would assist in locating the missing person.
Wisconsin
Alert Name: Silver Alert
Requirements:
- The missing person is 60 years of age or older;
- The missing person is believed to have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another permanent cognitive impairment that poses a threat to the individual’s health and safety;
- There is a reasonable belief that the missing person’s disappearance is due to the individual’s impaired cognitive condition;
- The Silver Alert request is made within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance;
- There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.
To sign up to receive alerts about Missing Seniors in Wisconsin, please subscribe here.
Wyoming
Alert Name: Endangered Person Advisory
Requirements:
- Incident has been reported and investigated by law enforcement.
- The missing person is under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious circumstances.
- The person is believed to be in danger of death or serious injury.
- There is enough information that could assist the public in the safe recovery of the missing person.