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Wisconsin Missing Child Alerts
Attorney General Josh Kaul, Sen. LaTonya Johnson and the Milwaukee Police Department discuss the importance of Wisconsin’s Missing Child Alerts.
MILWAUKEE - Attorney General Josh Kaul, Sen. LaTonya Johnson and the Milwaukee Police Department on Thursday, Aug. 14 discussed the importance of Wisconsin’s Missing Child Alerts as the Wisconsin Department of Justice marks one year since announcing the launch of these alerts.
"Too many Wisconsin families know what it’s like for a loved one to go missing," said Attorney General Josh Kaul. "The Missing Child Alert has added to the tools available that can help bring kids home safely."
Since the first Missing Child Alert was sent in August 2024, Wisconsin DOJ has approved and issued a total of 17 Missing Child Alerts for 14 children ages 4 to 17.
About Missing Child Alert
The backstory:
Wisconsin DOJ launched the Missing Child Alert after Governor Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 272 into law in April 2024
Act 272 is known as the Prince Act – named after 5-year-old Prince McCree who went missing in Milwaukee – and also recognizes 10-year-old Lily Peters, who went missing in Chippewa Falls.
The Missing Child Alert is disseminated through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network and a Wireless Emergency Alert will be sent to mobile devices up to a five-mile radius from the last known location, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
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The alert will also be disseminated on Wisconsin Lottery terminals throughout Wisconsin and on the Department of Transportation’s Dynamic Messaging Boards.
Missing Child Alert Criteria
Dig deeper:
- The person at risk has not attained the age of 18 years, AND, the person is believed to be incapable of returning home without assistance due to a physical or mental condition or disability., OR, the person has not attained the age of 10 years, AND,The individual(s) location is unknown, and,It is within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance, and,Their situation does not qualify for another alert (e.g., Amber Alert).The individual has been entered as missing into National Crime Information Center (NCIC).There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.
- The individual(s) location is unknown, and,
- It is within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance, and,
- Their situation does not qualify for another alert (e.g., Amber Alert).
- The individual has been entered as missing into National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
- There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.
Wisconsin Missing Child Alert; Kaul, others announce launch
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, the Milwaukee Police Department and community members to announce the launch of a new Missing Child Alert.
If a child is missing
What you can do:
- Contact local law enforcement to report the child missing.
- Law enforcement will work with Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and other law enforcement partners to assess the next steps for finding the missing child.
- DCI is the only entity that can issue a Missing Child Alert.
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Sign Up to Receive Alerts
What you can do:
Sign up for the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network and receive Missing Child, AMBER, Silver, Green and Missing Endangered Person Alerts. Visit the DOJ's alert system website to do so for free.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.