The Kentucky Golden Alert Law

When a child is reported missing, an Amber Alert is used to notify the media, police, emergency first responders and the general public with the intent of finding the missing child as quickly as possible.   

The "Golden Alert" system went into effect across the state on July 15. It works for adults in much the same way as Amber Alerts work for missing children. In the past, police had to wait 72 hours to begin looking for missing adults. The new law will allow a search to begin immediately for a person 18 years or older, who suffers from Alzheimer’s or a mental disability. Normally, family members of an adult who went missing would have to wait 48 hours to file a missing person’s report.

The new law will allow a larger number of people to hear more quickly about the missing person, and join in the search. The news media is to be involved as soon as possible to help get the word out so we can get people in the viewing area to be on the lookout for the missing person and know how to contact authorities to make a report.