Missing Person with Autism Alert Program Information

This program is available for use by all Virginia law enforcement agencies.

Criteria for the Activation of the Missing Person with Autism Alert Plan

1. The missing person’s whereabouts are unknown and the person has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
2. The missing person’s disappearance poses a credible threat as determined by law enforcement to the safety and health of the person and under such other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.
3. A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the person is missing and eliminated alternative explanations by a thorough search of the immediate area if vehicular travel is not involved.
4. Sufficient information regarding the missing person is available to disseminate to the public to assist in locating the missing person.
5. The missing person must be entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing person / missing children files and information reported to the Virginia Missing Children’s Clearinghouse (VMCC) or the Virginia Missing Person’s Clearinghouse as relevant.

If all of the aforementioned criteria are not met, the Virginia “Missing Person with Autism Alert” Plan will not be activated. However, information can still be provided to the media.

Plan Components

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

EAS is the national civil emergency alert system designed to inform the public of immediate threats to national security, life, and property. It is one component of FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Employing warning tones, EAS broadcasts messages to the public over radio and television. It utilizes the public radio/television and broadcast system to share information between public safety agencies and the media, who, in turn, transmit emergency information to the public. The Department of State Police uses the Everbridge Public Warning platform to communicate Alert information notifications through EAS.

Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN)

VCIN is a telecommunication system which provides a means of rapid communications for criminal justice agencies throughout Virginia.

Lost Child Alert Technology Resource (LOCATOR) System

LOCATOR is a software system that creates missing persons posters for local, statewide, and national distribution. During an abduction or when an alert is authorized, the Virginia Missing Children Information Clearinghouse (VMPC) can use LOCATOR to generate posters to publicize the case. VMPC is the only Virginia agency that can create a LOCATOR poster with the alert banner.

Virginia Missing Person Information Clearinghouse (VMPC)

The VMPC, operated by the Department of State Police, is responsible for the alert plan and serves as the central repository for information about missing adults in Virginia.

Secondary Components of the Virginia Alert System

A Child Is Missing Program (ACIM)

The ACIM program is a non-profit organization that enables law enforcement agencies to create a recorded audio message and distribute it by telephone. This free service can be used by any law enforcement agency with an executed agreement. When appropriate during an alert, the VMPC can contact the organization, identifying affected areas by five zip codes. ACIM will automatically call 1000 telephones numbers in sixty seconds and announce the pre-recorded message regarding the missing senior adult.

Public Utilities’ Communication Systems

The major public utilities within the Commonwealth have communication systems capable of notifying their field employees when an alert is activated. These utilities include electric companies, gas companies, cable companies, etc.