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The "Power and Control Wheel," illustrates that domestic violence is a cyclical pattern of physical and/or sexual violence by an abuser to exert power, establish control over, and diminish the independence of the victim. At the center of the wheel lies the cause of the violence -- the need for power and control. Violent acts or the threat of acts of violence serve as the rim of the wheel while varying types of behaviors, primarily psychological/emotional in nature, act as the spokes of the wheel to facilitate the establishment of power and control. 23 Specifically the abuser may use coercion and threats to harm a victim; intimidation through gestures or destruction of property; emotional abuse such as humiliation; isolation from family and friends; economic abuse; use of children as pawns in obtaining power and control; male privilege; or minimizing the abuse, denying that abuse occurred, and blaming the victim for the abuse, as means to control the victim. It is the use of violence that reinforces the ability of the abuser to use these various other psychological and emotional behaviors to dominate the victim. 24 Added to the complexity of the dynamics of domestic violence are the special fears, concerns, and needs of the victims of such violence

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