Silver Alert
Encyclopedia
A Silver Alert is a public notification system in the United States to broadcast information about missing persons - especially seniors with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia or other mental disabilities - in order to aid in their return.
Silver Alerts use a wide array of media outlets—such as commercial radio station
s, television station
s, and cable TV—to broadcast information about missing persons. Silver Alerts also use variable-message signs on roadways to alert motorists to be on the lookout for missing seniors. In cases in which a missing person is believed to have gone missing on foot, Silver Alerts have used Reverse 911
or other emergency notification systems to notify nearby residents of the neighborhood surrounding the missing person's last known location.
Supporters of Silver Alert point to America's growing elderly population as a reason to support new programs to locate missing seniors. Approximately 6 in 10 dementia victims will wander at least once, health care statistics show, and the numbers are growing worldwide, fueled primarily by Alzheimer’s disease. If not found within 24 hours, up to half of wandering seniors with dementia suffer serious injury or death.
for seniors," which he dubbed "Silver Alert." In March 2006, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed H.R. 1075, a resolution calling for a Silver Alert system to find missing seniors. In response to this non-binding resolution, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety added Silver Alert notifications to the statewide alerts sent to law enforcement agencies and the media for rapid distribution. In April 2009, Governor Brad Henry signed legislation permanently establishing the Silver Alert program.
In Georgia, public efforts to locate missing seniors increased following the April 2004 disappearance of Mattie Moore, a 68-year-old Atlanta resident suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Eight months after Moore's disappearance, her body was found 500 yards from her home. The City of Atlanta created "Mattie's Call
" to coordinate and support Metro Atlanta law enforcement, emergency management and broadcasters to issue an urgent bulletin in missing persons cases involving persons with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other mental disabilities. Legislation to create a statewide Mattie's Call program was enacted in April 2006.
In Florida, Mary Zelter, an 86-year-old resident of Largo, drove away from her assisted living facility on Feb. 26, 2008 and never returned. Her body was found a week later 10 miles (16.1 km) away in the Intracoastal Waterway near a Clearwater boat ramp. Her submerged car was nearby. This tragedy prompted Pinellas County officials to create a Silver Alert pilot program that later grew into a statewide initiative.
20 states have missing senior recovery programs that are formally called “Silver Alert”:
Additionally, 9 states have programs to help locate missing seniors that are not officially called “Silver Alert” but contain criteria similar to existing Silver Alert programs:
Plus, 9 states have missing persons alert systems with broader criteria than conventional Silver Alert programs. These missing person alerts apply to larger categories of endangered persons, or apply to all missing people, regardless of age or impairment:
5 states have Silver Alert legislation pending:
introduced the National Silver Alert Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the United States. Similar legislation was filed by Representatives Gus Bilirakis
(R-FL) and Sue Myrick (R-NC). The three bills were combined into a single bill, H.R. 6064. The bill was passed by the House in September 2008 by a voice vote, but the 110th Congress adjourned before it could be considered in the U.S. Senate.
The National Silver Alert Act was re-introduced in the 111th Congress as H.R. 632. It was passed by the House of Representatives on February 11, 2009 on a voice vote. The bill is currently pending in the Senate. Companion legislation (S.557) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mel Martinez
(R-FL) and Senator Herb Kohl
(D-WI).
S.1263, the National Silver Alert Act, is currently pending in the 112th Congress. It was reintroduced by Senator Herb Kohl
(D-WI) and Senator Joe Manchin
(D-WV) on June 23, 2011. The bill is currently pending in the Senate, where it has 4 co-sponsors.
The National Silver Alert Act has been endorsed by the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Alzheimer's Association
, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Elder Justice Coalition, National Silver Haired Congress, the National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs’ Association.
Such examples include the following:
Some critics have raised concerns about the cost of implementing the Silver Alert program on a nationwide basis. The Congressional Budget Office
has estimated that implementation of the National Silver Alert Act would cost $59 million over a five-year period. During the House debate on the cost Representative Ted Poe
(R-TX) noted that states with Silver Alerts have reported nominal costs associated with operating the system, since they are able to utilize existing Amber Alert infrastructure to issue Silver Alerts.
In Georgia, Mattie's Call has as garnered a safe return for 70 of the 71 calls issued between its inception in 2006 and January 2009.
In Texas, the Silver Alert system was invoked 52 times in the first year following its inception in September 2007. Of these alerts, 48 of the missing seniors were located safely, and 13 of these recoveries were directly attributable to Silver Alert.
In Florida, 136 Silver Alerts were issued in its first year (2008–2009), leading to 131 safe recoveries. 19 of these recoveries were directly attributable to Silver Alert. Over two years, 227 Silver Alerts have been issued in Florida – with 220 seniors located safely, and 36 of those recoveries attributed directly to the Silver Alert. Over three years, 377 Silver Alerts have been issued in Florida, with 367 seniors located safely, and 51 of those recoveries attributed directly to the Silver Alert.
Silver Alerts use a wide array of media outlets—such as commercial radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s, television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
s, and cable TV—to broadcast information about missing persons. Silver Alerts also use variable-message signs on roadways to alert motorists to be on the lookout for missing seniors. In cases in which a missing person is believed to have gone missing on foot, Silver Alerts have used Reverse 911
Reverse 911
Reverse 911 is a public safety communications system developed by Cassidian Communications, formerly PlantCML, a unit of EADS North America. It is used by public safety organizations in Canada and the United States to communicate with groups of people in a defined geographic area...
or other emergency notification systems to notify nearby residents of the neighborhood surrounding the missing person's last known location.
Supporters of Silver Alert point to America's growing elderly population as a reason to support new programs to locate missing seniors. Approximately 6 in 10 dementia victims will wander at least once, health care statistics show, and the numbers are growing worldwide, fueled primarily by Alzheimer’s disease. If not found within 24 hours, up to half of wandering seniors with dementia suffer serious injury or death.
Activation criteria
Activation criteria for Silver Alerts vary from state to state. Some states limit Silver Alerts to persons over the age of 65, who have been medically diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia or a mental disability. Other states expand Silver Alert to include all children and adults with mental or developmental disabilities. In general, the decision to Issue a Silver Alert is made by the law enforcement agency investigating the report of a missing person. Public information in a Silver Alert usually consists of the name and description of the missing person and a description of the missing person's vehicle and license plate number.History
In December 2005, Oklahoma state Representative Fred Perry (R-Tulsa) announced his intention to introduce an "AMBER AlertAMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
for seniors," which he dubbed "Silver Alert." In March 2006, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed H.R. 1075, a resolution calling for a Silver Alert system to find missing seniors. In response to this non-binding resolution, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety added Silver Alert notifications to the statewide alerts sent to law enforcement agencies and the media for rapid distribution. In April 2009, Governor Brad Henry signed legislation permanently establishing the Silver Alert program.
In Georgia, public efforts to locate missing seniors increased following the April 2004 disappearance of Mattie Moore, a 68-year-old Atlanta resident suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Eight months after Moore's disappearance, her body was found 500 yards from her home. The City of Atlanta created "Mattie's Call
Mattie's Call
Mattie's Call is a law enforcement initiated alert system to locate missing elderly, or otherwise disabled persons. It was created by an Act of the Georgia state legislature in 2006. In 2004, radio stations and local law enforcement agencies in the Atlanta, Georgia area broadcast information...
" to coordinate and support Metro Atlanta law enforcement, emergency management and broadcasters to issue an urgent bulletin in missing persons cases involving persons with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other mental disabilities. Legislation to create a statewide Mattie's Call program was enacted in April 2006.
In Florida, Mary Zelter, an 86-year-old resident of Largo, drove away from her assisted living facility on Feb. 26, 2008 and never returned. Her body was found a week later 10 miles (16.1 km) away in the Intracoastal Waterway near a Clearwater boat ramp. Her submerged car was nearby. This tragedy prompted Pinellas County officials to create a Silver Alert pilot program that later grew into a statewide initiative.
National growth
29 states and New York City have Silver Alert or similar programs targeting missing seniors. More than 195 million people live in jurisdictions served by Silver Alert or a similar program.20 states have missing senior recovery programs that are formally called “Silver Alert”:
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
Additionally, 9 states have programs to help locate missing seniors that are not officially called “Silver Alert” but contain criteria similar to existing Silver Alert programs:
- Alabama, Missing Senior Alert
- Delaware, Gold Alert
- Colorado, Missing Senior Citizen Alert
- Georgia, Mattie’s Call
- Kentucky, Golden Alert
- New Hampshire, Missing Senior Citizen Alert
- New York, Golden Alert
- Ohio, Missing Adult Alert
- Virginia, Senior Alert
Plus, 9 states have missing persons alert systems with broader criteria than conventional Silver Alert programs. These missing person alerts apply to larger categories of endangered persons, or apply to all missing people, regardless of age or impairment:
- Arizona, Endangered Persons Alert
- Minnesota, Brandon’s Law
- Missouri, Endangered Person Advisory
- Montana, Missing and Endangered Persons Advisory
- New Mexico, Endangered Person Advisory
- Pennsylvania, Missing and Endangered Person Advisory
- South Dakota, Endangered Persons Advisory
- Utah, Endangered Person Advisory
- Wyoming, Endangered Person Advisory
5 states have Silver Alert legislation pending:
- California
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
Federal Legislation
In May 2008, Representative Lloyd DoggettLloyd Doggett
Lloyd Alton Doggett II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He previously represented from 1995 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
introduced the National Silver Alert Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the United States. Similar legislation was filed by Representatives Gus Bilirakis
Gus Bilirakis
Gus Michael Bilirakis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives.- Early life, education and career :...
(R-FL) and Sue Myrick (R-NC). The three bills were combined into a single bill, H.R. 6064. The bill was passed by the House in September 2008 by a voice vote, but the 110th Congress adjourned before it could be considered in the U.S. Senate.
The National Silver Alert Act was re-introduced in the 111th Congress as H.R. 632. It was passed by the House of Representatives on February 11, 2009 on a voice vote. The bill is currently pending in the Senate. Companion legislation (S.557) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martinez , is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
(R-FL) and Senator Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
(D-WI).
S.1263, the National Silver Alert Act, is currently pending in the 112th Congress. It was reintroduced by Senator Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
(D-WI) and Senator Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
(D-WV) on June 23, 2011. The bill is currently pending in the Senate, where it has 4 co-sponsors.
The National Silver Alert Act has been endorsed by the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, incorporated on April 10, 1980 as the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., is a non-profit American voluntary health organization which focuses on care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease....
, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Elder Justice Coalition, National Silver Haired Congress, the National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs’ Association.
Silver Alerts across state lines
Supporters of national Silver Alert legislation have noted the significant number of Silver Alert cases where a senior goes missing in one state and is later found in another state.Such examples include the following:
- 11/27/2011: Silver Alert issued for 87-year-old Warren Eugene Poling. Poling went missing in Grafton, West Virginia and was found safe 570 miles (917.3 km) in Greenville, Illinois.
- 11/7/2011: Silver Alert issued for 83-year-old Jack Hill. Hill went missing in Gainesville, Florida, and was later found safe in Fayetteville, North Carolina, after a trip of more than 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) from Gainesville to Miami to Fayetteville.
- 10/31/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 81-year-old Billy Martens. Martens went missing in Leavenworth, Kansas and was found safe 200 miles (321.9 km) away in Butler County, Nebraska.
- 10/28/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 80-year-old Robert Stevens. Stevens went missing in Colden, New York and was found safe 160 miles (257.5 km) away in Franklin, Pennsylvania.
- 10/14/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 84-year-old Ralph Parrish. Parrish went missing in Lilburn, Georgia and was found safe 330 miles (531.1 km) away in Dillon, South Carolina.
- 9/24/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 78-year-old John Condayan. Condayan went missing in Clarksville, Maryland and was found safe more than 100 miles (160.9 km) away in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
- 9/21/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 88-year-old Carrie Lee Houser. Houser went missing in Long View, North Carolina, and was later found safe 340 miles (547.2 km) away in Caroline County, Virginia.
- 9/19/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 76-year-old Mary Copeland. Copeland went missing in Kingfisher, Oklahoma and was later found safe 250 miles (402.3 km) away in Springdale, Arkansas.
- 9/7/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 81-year-old Olen Hicks. Hicks went missing in Norman, Oklahoma and was found safe more than 180 miles (289.7 km) away in McKinney, Texas.
- 9/3/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 81-year-old Frank William Stoesser. Stoesser went missing in Chestertown, Maryland, and was found safe more than 100 miles (160.9 km) away in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
- 8/18/2011: Silver Alert was issued for 79-year-old John Randolph Trammell. Trammell went missing in Hillsborough, North Carolina and was found safe 270 miles (434.5 km) away in Washington, D.C..
- 7/1/2011: Silver Alert was issued for French James Napier and Elizabeth Napier. The couple went missing in Wayne County, West Virginia and were found safe 107 miles (172.2 km) away in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.
- 6/27/2011: Silver Alert issued for 64-year-old Tom Schmitter. Schmitter went missing in West Warwick, Rhode Island and was found safe 50 miles (80.5 km) away in Waterford, Connecticut
- 6/22/2011: Silver Alert issued for 77-year-old Richard Eugene Skaggs. Skaggs went missing in Mount Airy, Maryland and was found safe 47 miles (75.6 km) away in Washington, D.C.
- 6/19/2011: Silver Alert issued for 79-year-old William Lester Campbell. Campbell went missing in Morgantown, West Virginia and was found safe 54 miles (86.9 km) away in Oakland, Maryland.
- 5/16/2011: Silver Alert issued for 88-year-old Phil Phelps. Phelps went missing in Sun City, Florida and was found safe 470 miles (756.4 km) away in Riverdale, Georgia.
- 4/25/2011: Silver Alert issued for 71-year-old Benny Johnson. Johnson went missing in Pleasant Hope, Missouri and was found safe 100 miles (160.9 km) away in Arkansas.
- 4/14/2011: Silver Alert issued for 80-year-old Frederick Erwin. Erwin went missing in Brandon, Florida and was found safe 235 miles (378.2 km) away in Lowndes County, Georgia.
- 3/07/2011: Silver Alert issued for Raymond and Beverly Smith. The couple went missing in Topeka, Kansas, and were found safe over 400 miles (643.7 km) away in Imperial, Nebraska.
- 3/04/2011: Silver Alert issued for 88-year-old Frank Witten. Witten went missing in The Village, Oklahoma, and was found safe over 200 miles (321.9 km) away in the Texas panhandle.
- 2/28/2011: Silver Alert issued for 75-year-old Jessie Jenkins. Jenkins went missing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was found safe 275 miles (442.6 km) away in Hampton, Virginia
- 1/20/2011: Silver Alert issued for 32-year-old Ryan Cornell of Mansfield, Connecticut. Cornell was disabled as a result of traumatic brain injury. Cornell went missing in Wilimantic, Connecticut and was found safe over 140 miles (225.3 km) away in New York City.
- 12/31/2010: Silver Alert issued for 77-year-old Michael Tienken. Tienken went missing in Bristol, Rhode Island and was found safe over 150 miles (241.4 km) away in Norwalk, Connecticut.
- 12/08/2010: Silver Alert issued for 84-year-old Harry George Schlosser. Schlosser went missing in Walton County, Florida and was found safe over 300 miles (482.8 km) away in Pike County, Mississippi.
- 12/07/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 89-year-old Jack R. Nixon. Nixon went missing in Meadville, Mississippi, and was found safe over 650 miles (1,046.1 km) away in Ocala, Florida.
- 11/17/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 77-year-old George Earle Starr. Starr went missing in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and was found safe over 300 miles (482.8 km) away in Georgia.
- 11/13/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 86-year-old Edmund Ommundsen of Glen Rock, New Jersey. Ommundsen went missing in Washington Township, New Jersey, and was found safe 240 miles (386.2 km) away in Andover, Connecticut.
- 10/21/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 66-year-old Inez Jones. Jones went missing at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, and was found safe 686 miles (1,104 km) away in Meridian, Mississippi.
- 9/18/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 75-year-old Richard Barron. Barron went missing in Sumter, South Carolina, and was found safe 170 miles (273.6 km) away in Johnston County, North Carolina.
- 7/16/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 78-year-old Lloyd Estep. Estep went missing in Owensville, Indiana, and was later found alive almost 400 miles (643.7 km) away in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
- 7/15/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 75-year-old Keith Stillwell. Stillwell went missing in Largo, Florida and was later found alive 500 miles (804.7 km) away in Gwinnett, Georgia.
- 6/4/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 84-year-old Mert Porter. Porter went missing in Hope Mills, North Carolina, and was later found alive 370 miles (595.5 km) away in Atlanta, Georgia.
- 4/17/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 83-year-old Wilmer Williams. Williams went missing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was later found alive 255 miles (410.4 km) away in Dallas, Texas.
- 4/9/2010: A Silver Alert was issued for 60-year-old Steven Nicholas Dell of Lafayette, Indiana. Dell was later found safe 283 miles (455.4 km) away in Clayton, Missouri.
- 3/12/2010 Silver Alert issued for 78-year-old James Gilbo of Nokomis, Florida. Gilbo was found safe by authorities in Perry, Georgia, 415 miles (667.9 km) away.
- 10/30/2009 Florida authorities issued Silver Alert for 77-year-old Jack Clayton Smith, who went missing in Clermont, Florida and found alive more than 500 miles (804.7 km) away in Mississippi
Criticism
Critics of Silver Alert have raised concerns that the proliferation of color-coded alerts will reduce their importance, risking that alerts would be ignored as a "wolf cry". For example, Texas has created an Amber Alert, Silver Alert and Blue Alert (issued to locate an assailant in the event a law enforcement officer is killed or injured.) In New York, Gov. George Pataki vetoed Silver Alert legislation in 2003, citing his concern that it would weaken the Amber Alert system and make the alerts too common. In the absence of state-level legislation, local Silver Alert programs have been enacted by New York City and 5 New York counties: Rockland, Suffolk, Nassau, Niagara and Erie.Some critics have raised concerns about the cost of implementing the Silver Alert program on a nationwide basis. The Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress....
has estimated that implementation of the National Silver Alert Act would cost $59 million over a five-year period. During the House debate on the cost Representative Ted Poe
Ted Poe
Lloyd "Ted" Poe is a Republican politician currently representing Texas's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. The district includes most of northern Houston, as well as most of the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area. He is the first Republican to ever...
(R-TX) noted that states with Silver Alerts have reported nominal costs associated with operating the system, since they are able to utilize existing Amber Alert infrastructure to issue Silver Alerts.
Retrieval rate
Because the implementation of Silver Alert systems vary from state to state, there are no national statistics for the retrieval rates resulting from Silver Alerts. However, among states that publicly release statistics, retrieval rates indicate a high level of success. For example, In North Carolina, 128 Silver Alerts were issued in 2008. Of these, 118 seniors were safely recovered.In Georgia, Mattie's Call has as garnered a safe return for 70 of the 71 calls issued between its inception in 2006 and January 2009.
In Texas, the Silver Alert system was invoked 52 times in the first year following its inception in September 2007. Of these alerts, 48 of the missing seniors were located safely, and 13 of these recoveries were directly attributable to Silver Alert.
In Florida, 136 Silver Alerts were issued in its first year (2008–2009), leading to 131 safe recoveries. 19 of these recoveries were directly attributable to Silver Alert. Over two years, 227 Silver Alerts have been issued in Florida – with 220 seniors located safely, and 36 of those recoveries attributed directly to the Silver Alert. Over three years, 377 Silver Alerts have been issued in Florida, with 367 seniors located safely, and 51 of those recoveries attributed directly to the Silver Alert.