The California Statewide Feather Alert Program was introduced through Assembly Bill 1314, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, later amended by AB 2348 and AB 1863, established California Government Code Section 8594.13 and authorized a Feather Alert program beginning January 1, 2023. A Feather Alert is a resource available to law enforcement agencies investigating the suspicious or unexplainable disappearance of an indigenous woman or indigenous person. The Feather Alert will provide immediate information to the public to aid in the swift recovery of missing indigenous persons.   

Feather Alert Criteria

In order for a Feather Alert to be activated, a law enforcement agency must determine that the following criteria have been met. (Government Code section 8594.13): 
 
1. The missing person is an indigenous woman or an indigenous person.
2. The investigating law enforcement agency has utilized available local and tribal resources.
3. The law enforcement agency determines that the person is missing.
4. The law enforcement agency or tribe believes that the person is in danger and 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.
          (C) The missing person suffers from a mental or physical disability, or a substance use disorder. 
5. There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
 
  
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has designated the Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center (ENTAC) as the alerting authority for all Feather Alerts.  Law enforcement agencies or Tribes of California may directly request ENTAC activate a Feather Alert consistent with the following requirements:
 
       1.      If a person is reported missing to a law enforcement agency and that agency determines that the criteria are met, the
                 law enforcement agency or Tribe of California may request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a
                 Feather Alert.
        2.     A law enforcement agency shall make a determination that the criteria are met within 24 hours, following the initial
                 report being made to the agency. 
 
              (A)   If the law enforcement agency does not make a determination within 24 hours as required by clause, then the Tribe
                       of California may directly request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Feather Alert.

Printable FEATHER Alert Flyer

​What should the public do?

If a tribal member or tribal authority believes that there is a missing indigenous person who might meet the criteria for a Feather Alert, they should immediately contact local law enforcement. 

Every member of the community can play an important role in a Feather Alert.  If you have information about one that has occurred, call 911 immediately to report it.  Be prepared to provide the location, any relevant descriptions and make, model, color, and license plate number (if possible) of any vehicle involved.  Even the smallest piece of information can be the piece that leads to a successful recovery. 

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