It was an emphasis on that gap in the US emergency response system that led to the creation of the Ashanti Alert. There was no equivalent for adults between the ages of 18 and 64, while Amber Alerts are issued for missing children, and Silver Alerts are for seniors with a cognitive disorder. Now, that’s changed, with the passage late last year of the Ashanti Alert Act, named for the 19-year-old Ashanti Billie, who was abducted and killed in 2017. The system is intended to aid in the search for adults who go missing in suspicious or life-threatening circumstances, providing families with a key resource while time is of the essence.
The Ashanti Alert “will let law enforcement rapidly notify the public about missing and endangered adults to prevent the victims from taking that traumatic next step,” the Department of Justice said in a release, adding that it will also use TV, radio, highway signs, and cellphones. The system aims to harness the community’s assistance, even as it tries to establish common protocols across jurisdictions. Even more beneficial in situations of kidnapping, mental health emergencies, or those suffering from domestic abuse, and who do not meet the criteria in other alert systems through age or cognitive issues.
Federal Oversight and Infrastructure
At the federal level, the Ashanti Alert will be overseen by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Department of Justice. A national coordinator is responsible for coordinating with states, tribal governments, and public safety agencies to maximize commonality and minimize inconsistencies or confusion for the public when alerts are issued. This involves defining criteria on when the alerts must be triggered, how privacy is addressed, and procedures in case an alert is issued.
The coordinator is also required by federal law to submit annual reports to Congress. These reports include statistics on the extent of the system’s use, how successful it has been in recovering missing children, and what is required to make it better. Through mid-2025, the BJA has expanded its availability of training and technical assistance to assist additional states in implementing and enhancing their Ashanti Alert protocols.
National Improvements and Technological Updates
In August 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set the standard alert code for Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP). This new code officially adds Ashanti Alerts to the nationwide Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts, guaranteeing the warnings receive the same emergency broadcast treatment as Amber and Silver Alerts.
The update will allow for alerts to be simultaneously sent via radio, television, cell towers, and highway signage. This update has greatly increased the spread and rapid distribution of alerts, which has been a boon for getting important notifications out when time is of the essence. It also reconciles state and federal systems more precisely, reducing confusion and time lags for cross-jurisdictional cases.
State-Level Adoption and Challenges
The Ashanti Alert has since been adopted by more than half of the U.S. states, but the activation criteria and procedures differ. In North Carolina, for example, the state statute mandates that law enforcement verify a person is both endangered and missing before an alert can be issued. Alerts are required to be issued no later than six hours after receipt of a credible report and only by law enforcement agencies that meet particular qualifications.
Virginia also has a similar program under the name “Critically Missing Adult Alert.” But the department faced questions as recently as a few years ago after some of the state’s most notorious cases weren’t answered on time. After public outcry and pressure from federal lawmakers, Virginia has since changed its protocols so that it is activated more quickly, and so agencies cooperate more effectively. Lawmakers have also placed federal dollars in the budget to help pay for these changes.
Growing Public Awareness
Awareness of the Ashanti Alert is gradually becoming more public despite its relative obscurity. Thanks to some national news coverage, to community and advocacy press, and the launch of a federal website last fall, more and more people are starting to learn the name and the function of the system. Conversations across social media reveal many people have been getting Ashanti Alerts on their phones and wondering how they differ from Amber or Silver Alerts.
Then, too, advocates emphasize that more public education is warranted. Many people have no idea who qualifies for an Ashanti Alert or how they can assist with retrieving information when one is released. Some states have begun public service campaigns to explain the system, like how to report sightings and why it is critical to respond quickly in cases of endangered adults.
