Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Mark Glass, Commissioner
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Mark Glass, Commissioner
The Florida Spectrum Alert was established in 2025 (effective July 1, 2026) to enhance the safety and well-being of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through immediate and effective community and emergency response.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are prone to wander, or elope, from safe environments at a much higher rate than their non-autistic peers. Elopement often results in tragedy, including fatal traffic accidents and drownings. Children with autism spectrum disorder are often drawn to bodies of water, which poses a unique risk in Florida due to the prevalence of water in the environment.
The Spectrum Alert is intended to quickly mobilize the community to assist in locating and ensuring the safe recovery of missing children with autism spectrum disorder.
Resources:
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.
