§ 3–604
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
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.