The Ashanti Alert Act is a federal law that aims to provide a national notification system for missing adults. The law was signed into effect in 2018 and is named after Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old woman who went missing in 2017. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Ashanti Alert Act and how it works.
What is the Ashanti Alert Act?
The Ashanti Alert Act is a national notification system that helps to disseminate information about missing adults to the public. The system is designed to work similarly to the Amber Alert system, which is used to notify the public about missing children. The Ashanti Alert Act is specifically designed for missing adults who are 18-64 years old and are believed to be in danger.
How does the Ashanti Alert Act work?
The Ashanti Alert Act works by allowing law enforcement agencies to issue alerts to the public when an adult is reported missing and is believed to be in danger. The alerts are disseminated through various channels, including:
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Alerts are sent to mobile devices, such as cell phones and tablets.
Emergency Alert System (EAS): Alerts are broadcast on television and radio stations.
Social Media: Alerts are posted on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.
Highway Signs: Alerts are displayed on electronic highway signs.
Who is eligible for an Ashanti Alert?
To be eligible for an Ashanti Alert, the missing adult must meet certain criteria, including:
Age: The missing adult must be between 18 and 64 years old.
Disappearance: The missing adult must have disappeared under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
Danger: The missing adult must be believed to be in danger, such as being the victim of a crime or having a medical condition that requires immediate attention.
Benefits of the Ashanti Alert Act
The Ashanti Alert Act has several benefits, including:
Increased public awareness: The Ashanti Alert system helps to raise public awareness about missing adults, which can lead to more tips and information being reported to law enforcement.
Improved response time: The Ashanti Alert system allows law enforcement to quickly disseminate information about missing adults, which can help to improve response time and increase the chances of finding the missing person safely.
Support for families: The Ashanti Alert system provides support and resources to families of missing adults, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety during a difficult time.
The Ashanti Alert Act is an important tool for helping to find missing adults and bringing them home safely. By providing a national notification system, the Ashanti Alert Act helps to raise public awareness, improve response time, and support families of missing adults. If you or someone you know is missing, contact your local law enforcement agency to report the disappearance and potentially trigger an Ashanti Alert.
For more information about the Ashanti Alert Act, visit the
Bureau of Justice Assistance website.
