Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the "Joshua Alert" law on June 18, creating a requirement for immediate statewide emergency notifications when a child with autism or another developmental disability goes missing. The law, named for 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., follows his death after being missing for about 28 hours and found in a pond. Supporters say faster, targeted alerts can save lives by mobilizing the public more quickly. Advocates note that drowning and wandering are significant risks for some children with autism.
Ohio Adopts ‘Joshua Alert’ Law to Speed Emergency Notices for Missing Autistic Children
Ohio is close to creating a Joshua Alert after the drowning death of 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef. He's pictured here with his mother, Jonisa Cook.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on June 18 signed legislation establishing the "Joshua Alert," a statewide notification protocol named for 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. The law is designed to speed public emergency alerts when a child with autism or another developmental disability goes missing.
What The Joshua Alert Does
The new statute requires local law enforcement to promptly notify the statewide emergency alert system when a child with autism or another developmental disability is reported missing. Under prior Ohio law, authorities often were not required to contact the statewide alert system during the first 24 hours of a missing-child investigation; the Joshua Alert narrows that window for cases considered high-risk.
Background
Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., who was nonverbal and had autism, was reported missing and died on Nov. 21, 2024, after being missing for roughly 28 hours. He was found in a pond at his family's apartment complex in West Chester. His death prompted lawmakers and advocates to push for faster, more targeted public alerts for vulnerable children.
Ohio is close to creating a Joshua Alert after the drowning death of 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef.
Why Supporters Say It Matters
“This has the capacity to alert the public more quickly with the potential to truly save lives when seconds matter most,” said Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott.
Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, added: “While no law can undo the pain of a devastating loss, we have a responsibility to learn from these situations and to take meaningful steps to ensure they don’t happen again.”
Risk Factors Cited
Advocates point to research showing that accidental drownings are among the leading causes of death for people with autism, according to the National Autism Association. Studies also indicate a high rate of wandering among children with autism, which can quickly put them in dangerous situations.
What Comes Next: Local law enforcement agencies will implement the new notification requirements. The change aims to shorten the time between a missing-person report and broad public notification in cases involving developmental disabilities.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at [email protected] or @jbalmert on X. This story originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
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