§ 52-34.3:2 Establishment of the Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program
The Virginia State Police shall develop, in consultation with representatives of local law-enforcement agencies, including representatives from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, policies for the establishment of uniform standards for the creation of Codi Alert Programs throughout the Commonwealth. Codi Alert Programs may be local, regional, or statewide. They may include multiple localities or regions and may be expanded or compressed. The Virginia State Police may (i) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures for the Codi Alert Programs set by the Virginia State Police, (ii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Codi Alert, and (iii) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency may verify a child is missing or endangered and report such information to the Virginia State Police. The establishment of a Codi Alert Program by a locality and the media is voluntary, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to be a mandate that local officials or the media establish or participate in a Codi Alert Program. Existing Codi Agreements and Codi Alert Programs shall not be altered by the act of assembly creating this chapter.