MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law an expanded version of Alabama’s
Missing and Endangered Persons Alert, now to include an adult that has been abducted, effective
Friday, Sept. 1.
Previously, the criteria for a Missing and Endangered Person Alert stated that a person must be
missing and living with a mental or physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or autism
and is at risk of bodily harm or death. The newly expanded alert will include any adult, 18 and
older, who has been abducted and is believed to be in danger.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor said, “We are constantly
analyzing our processes and procedures to improve and better serve the citizens of Alabama. Our
Fusion Center recognized a need to expand this alert criteria and we are extremely thankful for
the support of Governor Ivey and the Legislature, who continuously work with us to enhance the
tools and resources we have.”
The State of Alabama has four Missing Person Alerts: the Amber Alert, Emergency Missing
Child Alert, Missing and Endangered Persons Alert and Blue Alert. With the exception of the
Amber Alert, all three alerts (Emergency Missing Child, Missing and Endangered Persons and
Blue) are in accordance with Alabama law and the various alerts criteria are set by statute. The
Amber Alert is a nationwide program in which most states, including Alabama, adhere to the
Department of Justice’s recommended guidelines and criteria for the alert.
The Alabama Fusion Center (AFC), a unit within ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), is
responsible for issuing Amber Alerts, Emergency Missing Child Alerts, Blue Alerts and
Emergency Missing Persons Alerts throughout the state. The Alabama Center for Missing and
Exploited Children is organizationally structured within the AFC and serves as a liaison between
citizens, private organizations, and law enforcement officials regarding missing and exploited
children and adults. Only a law enforcement agency can make a request to activate the state alert
system and each alert program contains criteria that must be met. In any situation regarding a
missing child or adult, the first step is to notify law enforcement immediately. None of the alerts’
criteria require a person to have been missing for a certain amount of time.
AFC Director Jay Moseley said, “In 2022, ALEA launched a new high-speed notification system
known as CodeRED to issue alerts to citizens. Citizens can subscribe to receive notifications in
the case of missing persons or during emergency situations by texting “ALalerts” to 99411 or
enroll online at alea.gov. We would also like to thank all citizens and local partners throughout
Alabama who assist law enforcement by sharing our missing person alerts and those who remain
vigilant for these missing individuals.”
Missing Person Alert Criteria:
AMBER ALERT: Child under 18 has been abducted and is believed to be in danger of serious
bodily injury or death.
EMERGENCY MISSING CHILD ALERT: Child under 18 is missing (not abducted) and is
believed to be in danger of serious bodily injury or death.
MISSING AND ENDANGERED PERSONS ALERT: Person is missing, living with a mental
or physical disability, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or autism, or a person has been abducted
and is believed to be at risk of bodily harm or death.
BLUE ALERT: Peace Officer is missing, injured or killed and the at large suspect is believed to
be a serious threat to the public.
Media Release/Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Office of the Secretary
