• Types of Alerts
  • AMBER Alert
  • Missing Child Alert
  • Spectrum Alert
  • Purple Alert
    • Purple Alert Criteria
    • Purple Alert FAQ
  • Silver Alert

Purple Alert Criteria

The Florida Purple Alert Plan outlines two levels of Purple Alert activation: Local and State. Local and State Purple Alerts engage the public in the search for the missing person and provide a standardized and coordinated community response.

Local Purple Alert

Although each agency may have their own criteria for activation of a Local Purple 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 Purple Alert.

Local Purple Alert Criteria Recommendations:

• The person is 18 years of age or older and does not qualify for a Silver Alert.
• Has your investigation determined the missing person:
  • Has any combination of the following: an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury, or another physical, mental, or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse AND
  • Does not have Alzheimer's disease or a dementia-related disorder?
• Has your law enforcement agency's investigation concluded that the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention?
• Is there a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution?
• Has your agency entered the missing person into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)?

Local Purple Alert Activation Recommendations:

• The local law enforcement agency must enter the missing person into FCIC/NCIC.
• The local law enforcement agency must contact media outlets in the affected area or surrounding jurisdictions.
• The local law enforcement agency must inform all on-duty law enforcement officers of the missing adult report; and
• Communicate the report to any other law enforcement agency in the county of jurisdiction.
• Once the above steps have been completed, the local law enforcement agency may request an analytical assistance case opening by calling the FDLE Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) at 1-888-356-4774.

State Purple Alert

For persons who meet Purple Alert criteria and go missing in a vehicle with an identified tag, a State Purple Alert may be issued. In these cases, FDLE’s MEPIC can assist with the illumination of dynamic message signs in your area. State Purple Alerts can only be issued for cases meeting the criteria below.

State Purple Alert Criteria:

• The person is 18 years of age or older and does not qualify for a Silver Alert.
• Has your investigation determined the missing person:
  • Has any combination of the following: an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury, or another physical, mental, or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse AND
  • Does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder?
• Has your law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded that the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention?
• Is there a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution?
• Is there a detailed description of the vehicle and verified tag number to display on the Florida Department of Transportation dynamic message signs?
• Has your agency entered the missing person into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)?
• Does the agency recommend activation?

State Purple Alert Activation Steps:

• The local law enforcement agency must enter the missing person into FCIC/NCIC.
• The local law enforcement agency must notify media outlets in their area and/or surrounding jurisdictions.
• Once the above steps have been completed, the local law enforcement agency may request a State Purple Alert by calling FDLE’s MEPIC at 1-888-356-4774.
• The FDLE will ensure that the information is broadcast via dynamic highway message signs and via email/text through sign-up by public citizens and other resources.