Maryland has now established a new alert system called the “Purple Alert,” inspired by an incident at the Glenmont Metro Station in October 2023.
This legislation aims to trigger alerts on a large scale when adults with intellectual disabilities are reported missing. The family of Rashawn Williams, a nonverbal 31-year-old who experienced a similar situation in Montgomery County, supported the bill.
While Amber Alerts are for missing persons under 18 and Silver Alerts are for seniors with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s, the Purple Alert fills the gap for individuals like Williams who don’t fit these criteria.
Williams’ father expressed relief that this legislation has gone through, hoping that other families wouldn’t have to endure the same uncertainty they faced. He emphasized the importance of the Purple Alert in ensuring that individuals with special needs are quickly located.
The Purple Alert covers individuals aged 18 to 60 with various disabilities and conditions, including mental disorders, brain injuries, and substance abuse-related emotional disorders, as well as those who are visually or hearing impaired.
Regardless of the type of disability, the Purple Alert system aims to prevent such incidents from happening again by leveraging technology and community engagement.
Aside from Maryland, Florida is the only state with a similar Purple Alert system in place, with Mississippi also working on implementing such legislation.
If Maryland Governor Wes Moore approves the bill, the Purple Alert system would be operational starting October, marking a year since Williams’ disappearance.
