Wisconsin Attorney General Discusses New Missing Child Alert

Friday, August 9th, 2024 -- 12:01 PM

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the new Missing Child Alert, that broadens options for alerting the public to missing children.

2023 Wisconsin Act 272, authored by state Senator LaTonya Johnson, state Senator Jessie James, Assemblywoman Sheila Stubbs and Assemblyman John Spiros, expands Wisconsin’s alerts to include the new Missing Child Alert.

“The Missing Child Alert will provide an additional way to help locate missing children and get them home safely,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to everyone who worked to launch this new alert.”

Senator LaTonya Johnson said, "I am proud of the implementation of the new Missing Child Alert system, which will help ensure all children are brought home safely."

"No family should have to endure the uncertainty and fear that Prince McCree’s or Lily Peters’ families faced, wondering if every available resource is being used to find their child. I am grateful to the Wisconsin Department of Justice for making this new system a reality and for their commitment to protecting our most vulnerable."

The Missing Child Alert was created when Governor Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 272 on April 10, 2024. Act 272, the Prince Act, named after 5-year-old Prince McCree who went missing in Milwaukee and 10-year-old Lily Peters who went missing in Chippewa Falls.

The new alert expands the criteria for issuing alerts for missing persons. The legislation revised § 175.51 and expanded the definition of a “person at risk” to include children.

The Missing Child Alert will be disseminated through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network and a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) will be sent to mobile devices up to a 5 miles radius from the last known location, between the hours of 8am-9pm.

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:

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.

If a child is missing: 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.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.