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Silver Alert Criteria

The Florida Silver Alert used to locate missing persons suffering from an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties. Law enforcement agencies must activate a Local Silver Alert as described below in an effort to locate the person prior to the issuance of a State Silver Alert.

Local Silver Alert

Although each agency may have their own criteria for activation of a Local Silver Alert for those individuals who are missing on foot or in an unidentified vehicle, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) recommends that agencies use the below criteria and activation steps as a guideline when issuing a Local Silver Alert.

Local Silver Alert Criteria:

  1. The missing person must be 60 years or older OR the missing person must be 18-59 years of age and law enforcement has determined the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and that the use of dynamic message signs may be the only possible way to rescue the missing person.
  2. The missing person must have an irreversible deterioration of mental faculties (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or dementia) that has been verified by law enforcement.

Local Silver Alert Activation Recommendations:

According to the Florida Silver Alert Plan, activation of a Local Silver Alert consists of the following steps, although each agency may have their own policy or requirements for activation of a Local Silver Alert.

  1. Local law enforcement must conduct a preliminary investigation, in which the agency has concluded that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the missing person's welfare and safety. 
  2. Local law enforcement must enter the missing person into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) and issue a statewide BOLO.
  3. Local law enforcement must contact media outlets in the area and/or surrounding jurisdictions. 

If a law enforcement agency has activated a Local Silver Alert and believes that activation of highway dynamic message signs may assist in the recovery of the missing person, the agency may request activation of a State Silver Alert following the instructions below.

State Silver Alert

State Silver Alert Criteria:

  1. The missing person must be 60 years or older OR the missing person must be 18-59 years of age and law enforcement has determined the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and that the use of dynamic message signs may be the only possible way to rescue the missing person.
  2. The missing person must have an irreversible deterioration of mental faculties (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or dementia) that has been verified by law enforcement.
  3. The missing person must be traveling by motor vehicle with an identified license plate number or other vehicle information.
  4. Law enforcement must have activated a Local Silver Alert by, at a minimum, completing the steps outlined above. 

State Silver Alert Activation Steps:

Note: Only law enforcement agencies can request activation of a Silver Alert. If you would like to report a missing person, please contact your local police department or sheriff’s office first, then contact MEPIC at 1-888-FL MISSING (356-4774).

Resources:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Priorities

FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.