Missouri Purple Law Could Save Missing Children

A new law in Missouri is now awaiting the signature of Governor Mike Kehoe that would help protect individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism.

What Is Missouri’s Purple Law?

The new legislation, known as RJ’s Law (also called The Purple Law), would create a statewide alert system for missing children with developmental disabilities without requiring the case to be reported as a kidnapping.

The Tragic Story Behind RJ’s Law

The legislation was named in honor of RJ, a young Missouri child with autism who tragically wandered away and drowned in a pond in Cass County.

How the Alert System Would Work

The Purple Law would help law enforcement develop specialized training programs and an alert system for missing persons with developmental disabilities. It would also establish policies and procedures for responding to emergencies involving missing individuals with developmental disabilities. The Missouri Department of Public Safety would oversee the program and create rules for implementing the alert system.

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This is another important step Missouri is taking to help protect individuals with developmental disabilities, with the goal of locating them more quickly and saving more lives.