Weinberg's 'Patricia's Law' Receives Final Legislative Approval

By CNoel | January 7th, 2008 - 6:12pm

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg which would help law enforcement personnel locate and safely return missing persons to their families received unanimous final legislative approval today from the full Assembly.

            The legislation is named for Patricia Viola, a Bogota woman who disappeared from her kitchen in 2001 and has never returned.  Patricia relies on medication to control her epilepsy, which makes her case of higher risk.  Patricia’s husband Jim has led the fight for this legislation, said Senator Weinberg.

            “When a loved one goes missing, those who love and care for them immediately go into panic mode, and their worries do not subside until that missing person is found,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen.  “By establishing real guidelines for law enforcement to follow when searching for missing people, this legislation gives hope to their families that police are doing everything in their power to help safely locate and return their missing loved ones.”

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