Endangered Missing Persons Alert Criteria

A requesting law enforcement agency must meet all the below criteria in order to activate the State Endangered Missing Persons Alert Network:

• Has the missing person been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability (Diagnosis could refer to what was previously described as Mental Retardation) and/or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, including Asperger’s Disorder, Autistic Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett’s Disorder or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified)?
  
  If the missing person has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability, law enforcement shall require a written diagnosis from a physician or psychologist licensed to practice within Texas, or certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and/or Texas Department of State Health Services. Written diagnosis could indicate the physician or psychologist was certified by the former Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
• Is it confirmed that an investigation has taken place, verifying that a reasonable explanation for the missing person’s disappearance has been ruled out and that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the missing person?
• Is the Endangered Missing Persons Alert request being made within 72 hours of the missing person’s disappearance?
• Is there sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person? (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the missing person was in the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).

• Download Endangered Missing Persons Alert Request Form (PDF)