The Wisconsin Department of Justice held a press conference at the Risser Justice Center in Madison on Thursday celebrating the official implementation of the new Missing Child Alert System which was created to expand the criteria for issuing alerts for missing persons.
The Missing Child Alert was created when Governor Tony Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 272, authored by state Senators LaTonya Johnson and Jesse James and State Reps. Shelia Stubbs and John Spiros.
“This bill is a shining example of the positive change we can make when we set aside partisan differences and work together to solve an issue that touches everyone in Wisconsin: every income bracket, every zip code,” Stubbs said in a statement. “Whether you are rural, urban, or suburban, at some point in time your community will come face to face with the case of a missing child. With the Missing Child Alert, we aim to bring peace of mind to our communities that any missing child will be searched for immediately and thoroughly.”
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-mile radius from the last known location, between the hours of 8 am-9 pm. The alert will also be disseminated on Wisconsin Lottery terminals throughout Wisconsin and on the Department of Transportation’s Dynamic Messaging Boards.
