California Launches the Ebony Alert System to Address Missing Black Youth and Women

The California Ebony Alert system was established to address the crisis of missing Black children and young women. This first-of-its-kind initiative in the nation was created under Senate Bill 673, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Ebony Alert system is designed to issue coordinated alerts for missing Black youth, including young women and girls, who are reported missing under unexplained, suspicious, or dangerous circumstances. This includes situations where the individual may be developmentally disabled, cognitively impaired, or at risk of trafficking.

The Ebony Alert system officially went into effect on January 1, 2024. It aims to bring more attention and resources to the issue of missing Black youth, who are disproportionately represented in missing persons cases in the U.S. While Black people make up about 13% of the U.S. population, nearly 40% of missing persons cases are people of color, highlighting a significant disparity in missing persons cases.

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Under the system, law enforcement agencies can request the activation of an Ebony Alert if they determine it would be effective in the investigation of a missing Black youth, including criteria such as age (between 12 to 25 years), mental or physical disability, and circumstances indicating danger or suspicious conditions. The alert system uses various platforms such as electronic highway signs, television, radio, and social media to disseminate information about the missing person.

Governor Newsom, while supportive of the bill, expressed concerns about the broad criteria for activating the alerts, highlighting the challenge of balancing the urgency of notifications with the risk of public desensitization. He directed the California Highway Patrol and the Office of Emergency Services to propose reforms to ensure consistency across California's alert programs.

The establishment of the Ebony Alert system is a significant step towards addressing the disparity in resources and attention given to missing persons cases, particularly involving Black youth and women.

To learn more visit: https://calmatters.org/politics/2023/12/missing-children-new-law-california-2024/