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§ 3-605. Blue Alert Program to locate and apprehend offenders

West's Annotated Code of MarylandPublic SafetyEffective: October 1, 2010

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, 2010
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-605
§ 3-605. Blue Alert Program to locate and apprehend offenders
Currentness
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff's department.
(3) “Missing offender” means an individual:
(i) whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii) who is suspected of killing or seriously injuring a law enforcement officer;
(iii) whose disappearance poses a serious threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel; and
(iv) whose vehicle the reporting law enforcement agency is able to describe, including any information about the vehicle's registration plate.
Blue Alert Program
(b)(1) The Department of State Police shall establish a Blue Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating and apprehending a missing offender.
(2) The Department of State Police shall:
(i) adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Blue Alert for a missing offender;
(ii) provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to make and handle a report of a missing offender;
(iii) provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the location and apprehension of a missing offender;
(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 Blue Alert; and
(v) consult with the State Highway Administration and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Blue Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State.
Notification of apprehension
(c) A law enforcement officer or agency that apprehends a missing offender who is the subject of a Blue Alert immediately shall notify the Department of State Police and the law enforcement agency that filed the report resulting in the Blue Alert that the missing offender has been apprehended.

Credits

Added by Acts 2010, c. 473, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010.
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-605, MD PUBLIC SAFETY § 3-605
Current with legislation effective through July 1, 2023, from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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