The California Statewide Feather Alert Program was introduced through Assembly Bill 1314 and became law in 2022 by adding Section 8594.13 to the California Government Code. 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 indigenous person.
2. The investigating law enforcement agency has utilized available local and tribal resources.
3. The law enforcement agency determines that the person has gone missing under unexplainable or suspicious circumstances.
4. The law enforcement agency believes that the person is in danger.
5. There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
 

​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