When a child goes missing, often times it does not meet the official Amber Alert criteria.  This is why Pennsylvania is bridging the gap between official Amber Alerts and other missing person cases.  A new system launched called MEPAS, Missing Endangered Person Advisory System, will distribute information to Law Enforcement, broadcasters and the public when anyone goes missing.

MEPAS is completely separate from the Pennsylvania Amber Alert system, and will not be used if a child is abducted and in imminent danger, but will be activated if an elderly person or child wanders away.

According to a release on the Pennsylvania State Police website, MEPA will be issued when:

• The circumstances of the incident do not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.
• The individual is missing under unexplained, involuntary or suspicious circumstances.
• The person is thought to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, or is known to be in the company of a potentially dangerous person.
• The requesting police agency is conducting an active investigation and has entered the missing person into the National Crime Information Center database.