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§ 3-604. Guidelines and procedures for issuing a Silver Alert

West's Annotated Code of MarylandPublic SafetyEffective: October 1, 2009

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Public Safety (Refs & Annos)
Title 3. Law Enforcement (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2009
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-604
§ 3-604. Guidelines and procedures for issuing a Silver Alert
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Caregiver” means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult.
(3) “Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff's department.
(4) “Missing person” means an individual:
(i) whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii) who suffers a cognitive impairment including a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia to the extent that the individual requires assistance from a caregiver; and
(iii) whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, as determined by a law enforcement agency.
Silver Alert Program
(b)(1) The Department of State Police shall establish a Silver Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person.
(2) The Department of State Police shall:
(i) adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Silver Alert for a missing person;
(ii) provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person;
(iii) provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person;
(iv) recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Silver Alert;
(v) consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Silver Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and
(vi) consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that:
1. allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section;
2. complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and
3. is consistent with the student service-learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education.
Notification when person is located
(c) A caregiver or person filing a report regarding a missing person immediately shall notify the local law enforcement agency with which the report was filed and the Department of State Police if:
(1) the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and
(2) it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police has knowledge that the missing person has been located.

Credits

Added by Acts 2009, c. 503, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, c. 504, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2009
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-604, MD PUBLIC SAFETY § 3-604
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document