National Criminal Justice Reference Service
NCJ 186256
December 2000

Reviewed by Loree Cook-Daniels

In October 2000 hundreds of policymakers and practitioners participated in the conference “Our Aging Population: Promoting Empowerment, Preventing Victimization, and Implementing Coordinated Interventions,” sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services.

The unusually detailed proceedings of the conference, available from DOJ’s National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), provides a wealth of ideas and networking opportunities for readers.

The conference focused on three themes: financial exploitation and consumer fraud, elder abuse and neglect at home, and institutional abuse and neglect. Participants attended a plenary on each topic (plus an opening plenary on why policymakers should focus on elder victimization), three of 14 workshops, and meetings with other participants from their state and/or tribe to develop collaborative strategies for responding to elder victimization in their jurisdictions.

The proceedings include fairly detailed summaries of what was discussed in each of these plenaries, workshops, and state/tribal meetings. Also included are a participants’ list with all contact information and a one- to two-page summary of all programs discussed at the conference.

Among the nuggets found in the report:

• A prosecutor in the District of Columbia said she hunts down “a mailing, a phone call, anything” that will serve as solid evidence and perhaps lead to forfeiture of exploiters’ assets. She also consistently pursues money-laundering charges against exploiters.

• Another prosecutor recommends packing courtrooms in fraud cases with elders from senior centers or AARP: “You’d better believe that judge is going to take notice.”

• South Carolina has a Vulnerable Adult Medical Protocol that relies on body charts to ensure that those who investigate elder abuse cases collect evidence in a consistent way that will stand up in court.

• Washington has issued a fact book to law enforcement agencies that discusses their responsibility for responding to cases of institutional abuse and neglect, gives addresses of those institutions, and provides best practices for conducting investigations.

• Washington also ensures there is an enforcement official in every nursing home 10 to 15 times annually by supplementing the state surveyors with quality assurance nurses.

• Vermont’s Attorney General’s office issues press releases on every institutional abuse case – misdemeanor or felony – in order to raise institutional and public awareness of the problem.

• Oregon has launched a volunteer “Retiree Response Technical Team” that assists APS and others in collecting and analyzing financial records for possible prosecution.

• Indiana houses its APS offices in 18 “hub county” prosecutors’ offices.

• Michigan’s Family Independence Agency has developed a risk assessment tool to help home health agencies detect incidences or patterns of financial exploitation.

• New Mexico has legislation permitting “undercover” care evaluations of institutions.

The whole 313-page report, including former Attorney General Janet Reno’s remarks to the attendees, can be downloaded from www.ojp.usdoj.gov/docs/ncj_186256.pdf. You can also order a free bound copy from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at www.ncjrs.org/ or by calling 800-851-3420. The document number is NCJ 186256.