COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new bill introduced to the Ohio legislature on October 16, 2024, seeks to establish a state-run alert system designed to aid law enforcement in tracking down escaped convicts. House Bill 677, introduced by Representative Bill Roemer, proposes the creation of the “escaped convict alert program” under section 5502.54 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Modeled after the widely-known Amber Alert system, which is used to locate missing children, the escaped convict alert program would focus on swiftly notifying the public when a person convicted or charged with a felony escapes from custody. The system is intended to cover the region surrounding the correctional facility, providing timely alerts to aid law enforcement in their search.
The bill outlines steps for law enforcement agencies to activate the alert system after an escape is reported. It also grants immunity to media outlets — including radio, television, and cable systems — whether they broadcast the alert or choose not to, shielding them from potential liability.
One key provision of the proposed legislation is that the alert system will not be authorized to use the federal emergency alert system unless explicitly allowed by federal law. This aims to ensure compliance with national regulations while improving public safety at the local level.
Though conceptually similar to Amber Alerts, House Bill 677 focuses on a different type of emergency involving potentially dangerous individuals on the run. The target audience of the alert will primarily be residents near correctional facilities, enhancing awareness and public safety in areas at immediate risk.
Advocates for the bill emphasize the program’s potential to provide quicker responses and more coordinated efforts to pursue escaped convicts, ensuring that law enforcement and the public work together to prevent further crimes or dangerous incidents.