Florida Alerts

The Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) is housed under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). MEPIC personnel are available 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with rotating staff. MEPIC personnel provides analytical and investigative support in the processing of leads associated with missing children cases. MEPIC issues the missing alerts for the State of Florida. In order to activate an alert, law enforcement must call MEPIC to request activation. After the law enforcement agency requests the alerts, it is reviewed by FDLE to determine if the request meets all the criteria to activate an alert based on Florida Statute.

View active alerts

AMBER Alerts

Allows law enforcement to quickly notify the public of critical information regarding a child that has been ABDUCTED.

An AMBER Alert can only be issued if:

The child is under the age of 18.
There is a well founded belief, based on an active investigation, that the child is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.
There is a detailed description of the child and/or the abductor/vehicle to broadcast to the public.
A well founded belief that a kidnapping has occurred based on an active investigation.
The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.

The AMBER Alert was named for nine year-old Amber Hagerman (pictured left). She was abducted in 1996 while riding her bicycle outside of her grandparent's home in Texas. She was found deceased four days later. The case is still unsolved. AMBER has since become an acronym for "America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response". In 2003, Congress passed the PROTECT Act to establish and support the development of AMBER plans in each state.

Learn more

Enhanced Missing Child Alerts (EMCA)

Most often used for young children who wander off and have a disability or autism, the Enhanced Missing Child Alert allows law enforcement to send out a wireless emergency alert to a defined geographical or targeted area, such as a neighborhood or community, in order to quickly notify the public of critical information regarding an endangered child.

An Enhanced Missing Child Alert has the same requirements as a Missing Child Alert, but, as mentioned above, is typically used in cases where a very young child or child with autism spectrum disorder or a different disability, has wandered off. Many children with autism spectrum disorder have a tendency to wander towards water.

Learn more

Missing Child Alerts

Allows law enforcement to quickly notify the public of critical information regarding a child that is in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

A Missing Child Alert can only be issued if:

The child is under the age of 18.
Law enforcement has a well founded belief, based on an active investigation, that the child is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.
There is a detailed description or photograph of the child to broadcast to the public.
The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.

Missing Child Alerts are often used for children that "disappear". This can include runaways, children that have no evidence of abduction but are missing, and custody issues with a court order to locate.

Learn more

Purple Alerts

The Florida Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from a mental or cognitive disability.

A Purple Alert can only be issued if:

The person is 18 years of age or older and does not qualify for a state level Silver Alert.
The investigation has determined the missing person:
- Has any combination of the following: an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury; or another physical, mental, or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse -and-
- Does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia related disorder
The law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded that the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention.
There is a detailed description of the missing person and/or vehicle information that can be distributed to the public.
The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation.

Learn more

Silver Alerts

The Silver Alert is used to locate missing persons suffering from irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties. The Florida Silver Alert Plan outlines two levels of Silver Alert Activations: Local and State.

A Silver Alert can only be issued if:

The person is 60 years or older; or,
The person is 18 to 59 and law enforcement has determined the missing person lacks the capacity to consent and the alert may be the only way to rescue the missing person.
The person has an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or dementia).
Law enforcement has determined that the person's disappearance poses a credible threat to his/her welfare and safety.

A local Silver Alert is issued when the person is on FOOT. A State Silver Alert is issued when the person is in a VEHICLE.

Learn more

404

Missing person alerts issued in Florida in 2024.

121

State Purple Alerts issued in 2024.

190

State Silver Alerts issued in 2024.

Florida Alerts

AMBER Alerts

Enhanced Missing Child Alerts (EMCA)

Missing Child Alerts

Purple Alerts

Silver Alerts

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

Sign up for the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board's Missing & Endangered Newsletter to stay informed!