Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed hundreds of bills into law on Thursday, marking a significant moment in the state’s legislative calendar. Among the newly passed laws is one that will create a Purple Alert notification system in Maryland. This system is designed to fill a critical gap in the state’s current alert system, offering a new tool for law enforcement and other agencies when someone with an intellectual developmental disability or brain injury goes missing.
The law, which will take effect on October 1, 2025, ensures that agencies across Maryland can issue a Purple Alert for individuals who are missing due to conditions like intellectual disabilities or brain injuries. This is particularly important for people who fall into a vulnerable age group—too young to qualify for a Silver Alert and too old for an Amber Alert. For these individuals, who might not fit the criteria for existing alert systems, the Purple Alert will ensure that the public is notified quickly and law enforcement has the support needed to bring them home safely.
The creation of this new alert system is the result of a persistent effort by a Maryland family who has been pushing for this change for several months. They have shared their harrowing experience to ensure no other family goes through the same ordeal. Last year, 31-year-old Rashawn Williams, who has severe Down syndrome and is nonverbal, went missing for nearly a week. Despite the urgency of the situation, his parents were frustrated to find that no alert was issued to the public. Because Rashawn did not meet the criteria for the Silver Alert system and was too old for the Amber Alert, his disappearance fell through the cracks.
His family, deeply distressed by the experience, knew they had to speak out to ensure others wouldn’t face the same lack of support. That’s why they testified in February at a Senate hearing, sharing their story and emphasizing how Williams’ case highlighted a flaw in the existing alert systems that failed to address those with intellectual disabilities and brain injuries.
“It was a horrendous situation he was in,” Williams’ father, Jimmy Hall, said. “This Purple Alert program will benefit the next family so they don’t have to go through it.”
The Williams family’s tireless advocacy has led to the implementation of the Purple Alert system in Maryland, making it a safer place for those who might otherwise fall under the radar. Currently, Florida is the only state that has implemented the Purple Alert system, while Mississippi is in the process of working on legislation to adopt it as well. This new law is a critical step toward protecting vulnerable individuals across the state and ensuring that families can count on the support they need in times of crisis.
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