Only a law enforcement agency can issue a statewide Endangered Missing Persons Alert.  If your loved one is missing, please contact 9-1-1 immediately and then Get Help Now.

If  you are a law enforcement officer and your agency needs to issue an Endangered Missing Persons Alert, please contact (832) 269-2553 or call (713) 599-0235 for 24/7 support and activation assistance.

divider

Endangered Missing Persons Alert Criteria

The following four criteria must be met to activate the Texas State Endangered Missing Persons Alert Network:

  1. The missing person has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability and/or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, including Asperger’s Disorder, Autistic Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett’s Disorder or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified).  If the missing person has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability, law enforcement shall require a written diagnosis from a physician or psychologist licensed to practice within Texas, or certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and/or Texas Department of State Health Services.*
  1. It is confirmed that an investigation has taken place, verifying that a reasonable explanation for the missing person’s disappearance has been ruled out and that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the missing person.
  1. The Endangered Missing Persons Alert request has been made within 72 hours of the missing person’s disappearance.
  1. There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.  (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the missing person was in the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).

*Note:  Medical documentation required for activation of the state’s Endangered Missing Persons Alert Network should appear on physician’s letterhead, indicating the impaired mental condition, date of diagnosis, patient’s name, and include the physician’s signature.

Missing children believed to be abducted under the age of 18 may qualify for an Amber Alert issued locally by the Houston Regional Amber Alert Program or statewide by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Missing adults 65 years of age or older with a diagnosed impaired mental condition may qualify for a Silver Alert issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

divider

How to Issue a Texas Statewide Endangered Missing Persons Alert

In response to legislation enacted September 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Public Safety implemented the Endangered Missing Persons Alert Network as a means to assist law enforcement in the recovery of missing persons with an Intellectual Disability. Endangered Missing Persons Alerts typically resemble those alerts issued for abducted children (Amber Alerts), using similar notification technologies (with the exception of EAS) to alert the public.

If your agency feels a missing adult diagnosed with an intellectual disability may be located either in the Houston area or in other Texas regions, this is an appropriate Alert to issue.

  1. Make sure you have all the information needed to issue the Endangered Missing Persons Alert handy, including physical description of the missing individual, medical documentation, a vehicle description if possible, and photos.
  1. Fill out the State form here to request a statewide Endangered Missing Persons Alert.  Please note the statewide submission and issuance process may take a few hours.  For further submission procedures and follow-up, visit TxDPS Endangered Missing Persons Alert Request Procedures webpage.
  1. Contact our Regional Emergency Alert Coordinator at (832) 269-2553 or call (713) 599-0235 for statewide issuance support, local missing persons response resources, and media liaison services.

divider

Victim Services

For assistance with Crime Victims’ Compensation or any other victim services, please contact Texas Center for the Missing Case Manager at (832) 701-8109 or mrangel@tcftm.org.