What Is A Purple Alert In Florida?

FLORIDA – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — Since July of 2022, FDLE has been issuing ‘Purple Alerts’ for missing persons in the state of Florida, but what is a Purple Alert?

Florida Purple Alert Criteria

In July of 2022, FDLE launched what they call the Purple Alert Plan. In its shortest possible form, a Purple Alert is used to assist the location of a missing person who has an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury, or other physical, mental, or emotional disability not related to substance abuse. The Purple Alert does not apply to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients.

The Purple Alert Plan was created in conjunction with The Florida Chiefs and Sheriffs, Florida Department of Transportation, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida legislators.

Florida’s Purple Alert program was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on July 21st, 2021, and went into effect on July 1st, 2022.

How do I activate a Florida Purple Alert?

Only a law enforcement agency can activate the Purple Alert system. If you know someone who is missing, you should contact your closest law enforcement agency immediately. After the LE agency takes the report, they will contact the FDLE Missing Endangered Person Information clearinghouse. FDLE will issue Purple Alert if the situation meets the criteria explained above.

Why does Boca Post report on Purple Alerts?

Boca Post accepts the responsibility of sharing missing person information to help safely recover anyone who is missing, including those who meet the criteria for a Purple Alert. It is worth noting that Boca Post also regularly reports on Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, Missing Children Alerts from FDLE as well as alerts from our local law enforcement partners.