MADISON, WI – The first Missing Child Alert in Wisconsin, created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 272, also known as the Prince Act, was issued in early August of 2024. Today, the Department of Justice officially marked 1 year since the launch of the alert. Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“Today we observe the 1-year anniversary of the launch of the Wisconsin Missing Child Alert, which was created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 272, also known as the Prince Act.
I was proud to join Senator LaTonya Johnson, Senator Jesse James, and Representative John Spiros as the lead Assembly author for this bipartisan legislation, which expanded criteria for issuing alerts for missing children. I also want to recognize and thank Attorney General Josh Kaul for his ongoing support of the Missing Child Alert.
The Prince Act was named in honor of 5-year-old Prince McCree and recognizes 10-year-old Lily Peters, both of whom were tragically murdered after going missing. No Amber Alert was issued for either child, because their cases did not meet certain statutory criteria. The Prince Act works to prevent such cases in the future by ensuring alert coverage for missing children who do not qualify for an Amber Alert but who may have difficulty returning home due to their age or a mental or physical condition or disability.
Every second counts in a missing persons case. With the Missing Child Alert, we are better able to share information on missing and endangered children quickly with their communities and increase the chances of them being found alive and safely reunited with their loved ones.
It is our duty as state legislators to stand up for missing persons and their families, to develop policies that lead to positive resolution for missing persons cases, and to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities from harm. I will continue to introduce and support legislation that prioritizes impacted families and gives every missing person the awareness, coverage, and attention they deserve.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have a missing child or loved one; we must keep looking, and we must keep saying their names.
In the words of former Attorney General and my Soror Loretta Lynch in her remarks on National Missing Children’s Day,
‘No matter who we are or where we live, we all share a basic concern for the safety and well-being of our young people. Their welfare is the most telling measure of our nation’s success – and their potential is the most promising element of its future. It is up to us – all of us – to safeguard that future.’”
