History of Silver Alert in Timeline

Silver Alerts are public notifications in the United States designed to help locate missing individuals, particularly senior citizens, who have Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments. The system aims to quickly disseminate information to the public, enlisting their help in spotting and safely recovering these vulnerable individuals. Alerts typically include details about the missing person, their last known location, and any relevant information to assist in identification. Activation criteria vary by state, but generally involve a confirmed diagnosis of cognitive impairment and a belief that the missing person's disappearance poses a credible threat to their safety.

2003: Governor Pataki Vetoes Silver Alert Legislation

In 2003, New York Governor George Pataki vetoed Silver Alert legislation, citing concerns that it would weaken the Amber Alert system and make the alerts too common.

April 2004: Disappearance of Mattie Moore

In April 2004, Mattie Moore, a 68-year-old Atlanta resident with Alzheimer's disease, disappeared, leading to increased efforts to locate missing seniors in Georgia.

December 2005: Oklahoma Representative announces Silver Alert intention

In December 2005, Oklahoma state Representative Fred Perry announced his intention to introduce a Silver Alert system, which he dubbed "AMBER Alert for seniors."

March 2006: Oklahoma House passes Silver Alert resolution

In March 2006, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed H.R. 1075, a resolution calling for a Silver Alert system to find missing seniors.

April 2006: Enactment of statewide Mattie's Call program

In April 2006, legislation was enacted in Georgia to create a statewide Mattie's Call program.

2006: Mattie's Call Inception

In 2006, Mattie's Call was incepted in Georgia.

September 2007: Silver Alert System Invoked in Texas

In September 2007, the Silver Alert system was invoked 52 times in Texas in the first year following its inception.

February 26, 2008: Incident Leading to Florida Pilot Program

On February 26, 2008, an 86-year-old person drove away from her assisted-living facility in Florida, and was later found dead, prompting local and state government officials to develop a pilot Silver Alert program.

May 2008: Introduction of National Silver Alert Act

In May 2008, Representative Lloyd Doggett introduced the National Silver Alert Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

September 2008: House Passes National Silver Alert Act

In September 2008, the National Silver Alert Act, H.R. 6064, was passed by the House of Representatives by a voice vote.

October 2008: Florida Initiates Silver Alert Program

In October 2008, Florida initiated the Silver Alert program.

2008: North Carolina Silver Alert Results

In North Carolina, 128 Silver Alerts were issued in 2008, resulting in the safe recovery of 118 seniors.

January 2009: Mattie's Call success rate

According to a spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, between 2006 and January 2009, Mattie's Call garnered a safe return for 70 of the 71 calls issued.

February 11, 2009: House Passes National Silver Alert Act

On February 11, 2009, the National Silver Alert Act (H.R. 632) was passed by the House of Representatives on a voice vote.

April 2009: Oklahoma Permanently Establishes Silver Alert Program

In April 2009, Governor Brad Henry signed legislation permanently establishing the Silver Alert program in Oklahoma.

2009: Florida Silver Alert Results

In Florida during its first year (2008-2009), 136 Silver Alerts were issued, leading to 131 safe recoveries, 19 directly attributable to Silver Alert.

2012: Review of missing-senior programs

In 2012, a review of research into missing-senior programs found that Silver Alert had not been evaluated to determine its effectiveness in returning missing seniors safely. The review also criticized Silver Alert for prioritizing safety over civil rights and noted the risk of exploitation due to broadcasting a missing person's identity.