National Ashanti Alert Network Training and Technical Assistance Program

Ashanti Billie was a 19-year-old woman who disappeared in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on September 18, 2017. Two weeks later, authorities discovered her body in Charlotte, North Carolina—350 miles away. The amount of time and distance between Ashanti’s abduction and the discovery of her body, as well as her age falling outside the scope of other alert programs, raised questions regarding the lack of a missing person alert system that focused on individuals over the age of 17. The Ashanti Alert Act (Act) and the National Ashanti Alert Network (Network) aim to address this problem.

The Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) is submitting this proposal to continue support for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s National Ashanti Alert Network Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program. This project supports DOJ’s mission to assist jurisdictions in reducing crime; protecting the public; improving criminal justice efforts; enhancing information sharing and collaboration; building trust; and implementing data-driven, evidence-based strategies.

This proposal builds on the successful work previously achieved by IIR’s team and will continue to advance the following goals: 

1)    Support the establishment and implementation of an active state information-sharing program, as directed in the Ashanti Alert Act.
2)    Increase the ability of state, tribal, and territorial agencies to electronically share missing and endangered person information, with the intent to assist in locating these individuals. 

To accomplish these goals, IIR will leverage it multifaceted TTA approach and the project’s guiding principles. IIR will complete the following: compile, maintain, and update a database of states’ missing person programs and contacts; compile and update a summary of legislation and policies related to missing and endangered persons; develop and maintain a public and secure website (the Network); implement the pilot project to test the Network and provide assistance to pilot participants; create, maintain, and distribute materials, resources, and guidance for developing and submitting Ashanti Alert Plans; assist with coordinating and facilitating the Ashanti Alert Advisory Committee and the Ashanti Stakeholder Working Group to include correspondence, meetings, calls, and assistance to the members; collect required missing and endangered person data, as outlined in the Act; and assist in drafting an annual report on the Ashanti Alert Program for Congress.

This effort will help enhance jurisdictions’ abilities to share missing adult alerts across state lines, locate and return missing adults, increase collaborative efforts, reduce violent crime, and save lives.