​The California Statewide Ebony Alert Program was introduced through Senate Bill 673 and became law in 2024 by adding Section 8594.14 to the California Government Code.  An Ebony Alert is a resource available to law enforcement agencies investigating the suspicious or unexplainable disappearance of a black  woman or black person.  The Ebony Alert will provide immediate
information to the public to aid in the swift recovery of missing black persons.  

Ebony Alert Criteria

In order for an Ebony Alert to be activated, a law enforcement agency may consider that the following criteria have been met. (Government Code section 8594.14):

1. The missing person is between 12 to 25 years of age.

2. The missing person suffers from a mental or physical disability.  

3. The person is missing under circumstances that indicate any of the following:

(A) The missing person’s physical safety may be endangered.

(B) The missing person may be subject to trafficking.

4. The law enforcement agency determines that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

5. The law enforcement agency believes that the person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, or environment or weather conditions, that the person is in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or that there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril.

6. The investigating law enforcement agency has utilized available local resources.

7. There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person. 

​Click on the buttons below to learn more about each alert and the program