§ 421. Alert Program Act

This chapter may be cited as “The Alert Program Act of 2003”.

§ 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.

§ 428. Immunity from civil liability

(a) A broadcaster that has agreed to participate in the Amber Alert Program and that (1) receives an Amber Alert notification from the Department; and (2) broadcasts a description of the abducted child contained in the notification and other information contained in the notification which will assist in locating the child, is immune from civil […]

§ 429. Rules

(a) The Commissioner of Police shall promulgate rules in accordance with Title 3, chapter 35 of the Virgin Islands Code for the implementation of the Program. The rules must include, but need not be limited to: (1) Procedures for verifying whether child abduction has occurred and the circumstances thereunder; (2) The process for reporting the […]