§ 451. Short title
This chapter may be cited as “The Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act.”
§ 452. Definitions
The following terms have the meaning set forth in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise— (a) “Abandonment” means the desertion or willful forsaking of an elder or dependent adult by anyone having care or custody of that person under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care and custody. (b) “Abduction” […]
§ 453. Mandated reporter; duties
(a) Any mandated reporter who, in the mandated reporter’s professional capacity, or within the scope of the mandated reporter’s employment, has observed or has knowledge of an incident that reasonably appears to be physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect, or is told by an elder or dependent adult that he has experienced […]
§ 454. Other persons making report
Any person who is not a mandated reporter under this chapter, who knows, or reasonably suspects, that an elder or dependent adult has been the victim of abuse may report the abuse to a local law enforcement agency.
§ 422. Findings
(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) Public alerts can be one of the most effective strategies in combating child abductions; (2) Professionals in the field of child abduction and missing children agree that in the case of an abducted child, the first few hours following the abduction are critical in finding the child, and that […]
§ 423. Definitions
As used in this chapter (a) “Abducted child” means a child: (1) whose whereabouts are unknown; (2) (A) whose domicile at the time he was reported missing was the Virgin Islands; or (B) about whom credible information is received from a law enforcement agency located in another jurisdiction that the abducted child is traveling to […]
§ 424. Amber Alert Emergency Response Program
(a) To assist with the safe recovery of abducted children, there is established in the Virgin Islands Police Department the Virgin Islands Amber Alert Emergency Response Program. The Program shall be implemented and administered by the Virgin Islands Police Department and shall be a coordinated effort among the Police Department, other law enforcement agencies, the […]
§ 425. Staffing
The Commissioner and the Attorney General shall designate staff responsible for the operation of the Amber Alert Program.
§ 426. Procedure and notification
(a) The Commissioner shall develop a procedure established by regulation which the Department may follow to verify a child has been abducted. (b) The Commissioner shall notify all government departments and agencies, all broadcasters in the territory and the public of the Program. (c) Upon receipt of a notice of a child abduction, the Department […]
§ 427. Broadcast of abduction information
A broadcaster participating in the Amber Alert program shall immediately broadcast (1) the description of the abducted child; and (2) other information that will assist in locating the abducted child to general public pursuant to the Amber Alert plan agreement between the Police Department and the Government.