Law Enforcement and Adult Protective Services Working Together: A
Team Approach to Elder Abuse CasesAge in Action; Vol. 19 (3),
Summer 2004.Journal article (scholarship)This article highlights the
Central Virginia Task Force on Older Battered Women (OBW Task Force), a regional
coalition of aging, domestic violence (DV), law enforcement, and legal services
agencies dedicated to raising awareness of the needs of women who experience
domestic violence/intimate partner violence and sexual assault in later life.
Established in 1998, the project focuses on developing collaborative and
interdisciplinary community responses to address violence against older women. A
case study is presented from Henrico County that illustrates how adult
protective services (APS) and the police department conducted a joint
investigation of a sexual assault of a 65 year old assisted living facility
resident. The following key elements for successful collaboration were
identified: the need for all members to understand and respect the expertise and
distinct role of each member; the need for investigators to attempt to conduct
joint interviews whenever possible; and to the need to ensure that time and
resources are shared effectively. (Note: This article is available online only
at: http://www.vcu.edu/vcoa/ageaction/AGEsu04.htm.)
2003
P5623-25Heisler, C. & Stiegel Enhancing the Justice System's
Response to Elder Abuse: Discussions and Recommendations of the "Improving
Prosecution" Working Group of The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect; Vol. 14 (4), 31-54; 2002.**Journal
article (scholarship)This article elaborates upon two of the
recommendations identified through the "Improving Prosecution" working group
session of the National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse (December 2001, Washington,
D.C.): "improving the legal landscape by strengthening elder abuse laws" and
"increasing awareness within the justice system." The following topics were
considered: the role of the federal and state governments in increasing elder
abuse reporting and enhancing prosecution; the need for expert witnesses,
support, and technical assistance; the identification of barriers to accessing
the criminal justice system; the improvement of outcomes in criminal cases; and
the need for training of law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, coroners, court
personnel, and advocates. The authors also provide a historical perspective on
the response of the criminal justice system to elder abuse, which was initially
minimal, based in part upon the underreporting of the problem.
P5404-88* Johnson, K., for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS
