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Lampitt: Averted Tragedy in Woolwich Shows Need for "Gold Alert" Legislation

(CHERRY HILL) – Assembly Women and Children Committee Chairwoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) released the following statement Wednesday, after CBS reported that a man with cognitive disabilities was safely returned to his living facility after wandering off Monday in a rural section of Gloucester County:


“I am deeply thankful that this individual was found quickly and was safely returned to his living facility. Fortunately, this story had a happy ending, but in such situations, that is not always the case. That’s why New Jersey needs the legislation I have proposed to create a ‘Gold Alert’ to assist the public and public safety officers in finding missing persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“My legislation is modeled on the already successful ‘Silver Alert’ system, which provides the public with information to help find missing senior citizens in similar situations. These recent events show the importance of such a system to assist in finding missing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Jersey should act on this common-sense legislation without delay.”

Lampitt’s bill, A-2709, passed the Assembly Human Services Committee in May by a vote of 5-0.