Title 3. Law Enforcement — Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-601 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–601LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
A law enforcement agency may not establish a mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report.
(2)
A law enforcement agency shall make every effort to inform the general public and the family of a missing person that the agency does not impose a mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report.
(b)
In accordance with subsection (a) of this section, a law enforcement agency:
(1)
shall accept without delay a report of a missing person provided in person; and
(2)
may accept a report of a missing person by phone or other electronic means if:
(i)
that form of reporting is consistent with the policy of the law enforcement agency; and
(ii)
the reporting person completes the report in person as soon as possible.
(c)
With regard to a missing person as defined in § 3–604 of this subtitle, a law enforcement agency shall enter all necessary and available information into the National Crime Information Center computer network within 2 hours after receipt of the minimum information necessary to make the entry.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-602 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–602LinkCopy Citation
On or before October 1, 2008, all law enforcement agencies in the State shall begin using a uniform report form developed by the Police Training and Standards Commission in accordance with § 3–207 of this title when taking a missing person report.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-603 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–603LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall maintain files of DNA samples and photographs of unidentified human remains.
(b)
The cremation of human remains is subject to the provisions of § 5-502 of the Health - General Article.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-604 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–604LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Caregiver” means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult.
(3)
“Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff’s department.
(4)
“Missing person” means an individual:
(i)
whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii)
who suffers a cognitive impairment including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to the extent that the individual requires assistance from a caregiver; and
(iii)
whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, as determined by a law enforcement agency.
(b)
(1)
The Department of State Police shall establish a Silver Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person.
(2)
The Department of State Police shall:
(i)
adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Silver Alert for a missing person;
(ii)
provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person;
(iii)
provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person;
(iv)
recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Silver Alert;
(v)
consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Silver Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and
(vi)
consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that:
(1)
allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section;
(2)
complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and
(3)
is consistent with the student service–learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education.
(c)
A caregiver or person filing a report regarding a missing person immediately shall notify the local law enforcement agency with which the report was filed and the Department of State Police if:
(1)
the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and
(2)
it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police has knowledge that the missing person has been located.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-605 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–605LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff’s department.
(3)
“Missing offender” means an individual:
(i)
whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii)
who is suspected of killing or seriously injuring a law enforcement officer;
(iii)
whose disappearance poses a serious threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel; and
(iv)
whose vehicle the reporting law enforcement agency is able to describe, including any information about the vehicle’s registration plate.
(b)
(1)
The Department of State Police shall establish a Blue Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating and apprehending a missing offender.
(2)
The Department of State Police shall:
(i)
adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Blue Alert for a missing offender;
(ii)
provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to make and handle a report of a missing offender;
(iii)
provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the location and apprehension of a missing offender;
(iv)
recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Blue Alert; and
(v)
consult with the State Highway Administration and the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Blue Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State.
(c)
A law enforcement officer or agency that apprehends a missing offender who is the subject of a Blue Alert immediately shall notify the Department of State Police and the law enforcement agency that filed the report resulting in the Blue Alert that the missing offender has been apprehended.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-606 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–606LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff’s department.
(3)
“Missing suspect” means an individual:
(i)
whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii)
who is suspected of violating § 27–113 of the Transportation Article; and
(iii)
whose vehicle the reporting law enforcement agency is able to describe, including any information about the vehicle’s registration plate.
(b)
(1)
The Department of State Police shall establish a Yellow Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating and apprehending a missing suspect.
(2)
The Department of State Police shall:
(i)
adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Yellow Alert for a missing suspect;
(ii)
provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to make and handle a report of a missing suspect;
(iii)
provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the location and apprehension of a missing suspect;
(iv)
recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Yellow Alert; and
(v)
consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relating to a Yellow Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State.
(c)
A law enforcement officer or agency that apprehends a missing suspect who is the subject of a Yellow Alert immediately shall notify the Department of State Police and the law enforcement agency that filed the report resulting in the Yellow Alert that the missing suspect has been apprehended.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-607 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–607LinkCopy Citation
The Department of State Police shall place a direct link to the Internet site of the Maryland Center for Missing and Unidentified Persons on the home page of the Department’s website.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-608 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 6. Missing Persons
§ 3–608LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Caregiver” means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult.
(3)
“Developmental disability” has the meaning stated in § 7–101(g) of the Health – General Article.
(4)
“Intellectual disability” has the meaning stated in § 7–101(n) of the Health – General Article.
(5)
“Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency or a sheriff’s department.
(6)
“Mental disorder” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article.
(7)
“Missing person” means an individual:
(i)
whose whereabouts are unknown;
(ii)
(1)
who has a cognitive impairment, mental disorder, intellectual or developmental disability, or brain injury that is not:
(A)
Alzheimer’s disease;
(B)
dementia; or
(C)
a physical, mental, or emotional disability related to substance abuse; or
(2)
who is deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or late–deafened;
(iii)
whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, as determined by a law enforcement agency; and
(iv)
who does not meet the criteria for activation of a Silver Alert under § 3–604 of this subtitle.
(b)
(1)
The Department of State Police shall establish a Purple Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person.
(2)
The Department of State Police shall:
(i)
adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Purple Alert for a missing person;
(ii)
provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person;
(iii)
provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person;
(iv)
recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Purple Alert;
(v)
consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Purple Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and
(vi)
consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that:
(1)
allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section;
(2)
complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and
(3)
is consistent with the student service–learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education.
(3)
The Department of State Police may consult with relevant stakeholders representing citizens with disabilities to develop regulations and procedures to carry out this section.
(c)
A caregiver or person filing a report regarding a missing person immediately shall notify the local law enforcement agency with which the report was filed and the Department of State Police if:
(1)
the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and
(2)
it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police has knowledge that the missing person has been located.