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Background and Legislation:

Senior Alert
The Virginia “Senior Alert” (VSA) Plan created by legislation in the 2007 General Assembly provides a valuable tool for Virginia law enforcement agencies to help locate missing “senior adults”, while allowing the broadcasters of Virginia an opportunity to contribute to the communities they serve.
We are hopeful that Virginia’s “Senior Alert” Plan will assist in recovering missing Senior Adults that may be in great danger.
This plan is available for use by all Virginia law enforcement agencies and can be used as their primary “Senior Alert” Plan or as a supplement to a regional plan.

Definitions:  § 52-34.4 

Statutory Authority:  § 52-34.5 | § 52-34.6 

Ashanti (Critically Missing Adult) - Effective 7/1/2018

On September 18, 2018, Ashanti Billie drove to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Norfolk, VA.  Approximately 30 minutes later her car was seen leaving and she never showed for work or to a culinary school in Virginia Beach, VA.  As the investigation continued into the disappearance into Ashanti’s disappearance, police obtained evidence which led them to believe that she had probably been abducted. 

Ashanti’s body was discovered on September 29, 2017, in Charlotte, NC behind a church.  Evidence found including DNA evidence led to the arrest of Ashanti’s abductor who was charged federally with abduction and murder.

As a result of this incident, Congressman Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones began researching into the state’s alert systems for missing and abducted adults.  At the time of Ashanti’s abduction, the state’s alert system only dealt with:

• Abducted children
• Missing Seniors (age 60 or over with a cognitive impairment)
• Blue Alerts (missing law enforcement officers).

On January 3, 2018, Congressman Jones introduced House Bill 260 Virginia Critically Missing Adult (CMA) Alert Program which Governor Ralph Northam signed into law on April 5, 2018. 

Definitions: § 52-34.10

Statutory Authority:  § 52-34.11 | § 52-34.12 
                                                                               

Endangered Child Alert

The Endangered Child Alert is a component of the Virginia AMBER Alert.  For details about this alert and the Virginia AMBER Alert please visit www.vaamberalert.com .

Missing Child with Autism Alert - - Effective 7/1/2020

The Virginia “Missing Child with Autism Alert” Plan created by legislation in the 2020 General Assembly provides a valuable tool for Virginia law enforcement agencies to help locate missing “Children with Autism,” while allowing the broadcaster of Virginia an opportunity to contribute to the communities they serve.  We are hopeful that Virginia’s “Missing Child with Autism Alert” Plan will assist in recovering missing Autistic Children who may be in great danger.  This plan is available for use by all Virginia law enforcement agencies and can be used as their primary “Missing Child with Autism Alert” Plan or as a supplement to a local plan.

Definitions: § 52-34.13

Statutory Authority: § 52.34-14 | § 52.34-15