Runaway Alerts

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – An Oklahoma lawmaker plans a legislative study to examine the need for a runaway alert system similar to Amber Alerts for abducted children.

Tuesday’s study was requested by Rep. Joe Dorman of Rush Springs, who offered legislation this year to create a runaway alert system. The bill is awaiting a committee hearing in the state Senate.

A search of missing children in Oklahoma in a one-year period on the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children website shows 20 open cases. The U.S. Department of Justice says 800,000 children are reported missing nationwide each year.

Currently, law enforcement authorities can’t pick up runaways unless they are breaking a law. Dorman says he wants to authorize law enforcement to take reported runaways into custody and determine