NCJ Number
205245
Journal
Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 31-54
Date Published
2002
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article suggests ways to implement the following two recommendations of The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse: improve the legal landscape by strengthening elder-abuse laws; and increase the justice system's awareness of elder abuse.
Abstract
The Summit recommendations -- drawn from a history of action and inaction at the Federal, State, and local levels -- identify Federal initiatives as the area requiring development. Drawing on earlier, effective Federal legislation, such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Victims of Crime Act, Summit participants urged similar Federal leadership and funding to counter elder abuse. Federal support on this issue is required to promote rigorous research to inform the field, develop more uniform policies, aid in the identification and promotion of promising practices, and ensure long-term support for efforts to prevent elder abuse and provide services for elderly victims of abuse. The introduction of the Elder Justice Act in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are important steps toward implementing the Summit recommendations. The Elder Justice Act would support and strengthen the health care, social services, and justice systems that are responsible for preventing and responding to elder abuse. Over the last two decades there has been an increasing recognition that many instances of elder abuse involve criminal conduct. This recognition has led to efforts in various parts of the Nation to train and cross-train professionals to recognize elder abuse, implement the forensic responses necessary to collect and preserve evidence, interview elder abuse victims effectively, and develop methods to present cases in court; however, these efforts have been limited by a lack of forensic knowledge and expertise, resources, and direction. The National Institute of Justice and the National Institute of Aging have started to fund some research efforts that will enhance the knowledge of forensic issues related to elder abuse. In addition, the University of California at Irvine Medical Center, with funding from the Archstone Foundation, recently started a national forensic center on elder abuse. 30 references