§21904 Minimum Standards for Issuance and Dissemination of Alerts Through Ashanti Alert Communications Network

Summary

The Coordinator must create basic rules for when Ashanti Alerts are sent and how far they are shared. After talking with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement, the rules must, as much as possible, make sure information about a missing adult’s special needs (such as health needs) gets to the right law enforcement, public health, and other officials. Alerts should only be sent to areas the missing adult could reasonably reach, based on the person’s condition, the transport they could use, and how they disappeared. An Ashanti Alert can only be issued if the missing adult has a documented mental or physical disability that law enforcement accepts, or if law enforcement believes the person’s safety is at risk or the disappearance may not be voluntary (for example, abduction or kidnapping). The rules must follow all applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local privacy laws, protect civil liberties and medical information, and require checking court records, prior police contacts, and other relevant information when needed to protect against domestic violence. The Coordinator must not interfere with local voluntary coordination between broadcasters and law enforcement that was in place the day before December 31, 2018.