New York State marked the one-year anniversary of its Missing Adult Alert system on Tuesday.

The system is activated when an individual 18 years old or older with dementia, autism or other cerebral disorder, brain injury or mental disability is reported missing and is at credible risk of harm.

Administered by the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at the State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the alert program went live on Oct. 23, 2011.

Since that time, the Division of Criminal Justice Services has issued 21 alerts, and in seven instances, law enforcement officials have credited the alert system with helping them locate the adult that went missing in their community.

Missing Adult Alerts are similar to Amber Alerts, or the Missing Child/College Student Alert system, which also is administered by the Clearinghouse.

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