Identifying and Responding to Elder Abuse: An Officer’s Role
Enhancing law enforcement’s ability to confront evolving types of crime committed against the vulnerable elderly demographic.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, there were 46.2 million people 65 years or older in 2014, representing 14.5 percent of the U.S. population, which is approximately one in every seven Americans. By 2040, this number will grow to about 82.3 million, comprising approximately 21.7 percent of the population. With this continued upward swing in demographics, law enforcement will need extensive training, tools, and strategies to confront the evolving types of crime committed against this segment of the population.
The IACP in collaboration with PAE and the Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice, is addressing these needs through the development of a:
- Six-part roll call video series to enable law enforcement to better identify signs of elder abuse and recognize evidence that can lead to the successful prosecution of criminals.
- Excel-based financial investigative tool that can help identify patterns of exploitation and develop graphic representations of suspected criminal activity.
For more information contact [email protected].
Roll Call Training Videos
These roll call training videos recount actual cases from around the United States, and highlight the actions of responding officers that led to a resolution of the case.
Use the Training and Discussion Facilitation Guide to reinforce key information highlighted in the videos, encourage discussion on additional topics, and assist law enforcement in applying this information to their local community.
False Imprisonment
Financial Abuse By A Stranger
Financial Exploitation By A Family Member
Physical Abuse
Neglect (2 Cases)
Understanding Elder Abuse
Senior Abuse Financial Tracking and Accounting Tool (SAFTA)
The objective of the Senior Abuse Financial Tracking and Accounting Tool (SAFTA) is to provide law enforcement with a simplified method for investigating suspicious financial patterns and prosecuting cases of suspected financial exploitation of older adults.
SAFTA Tool v4 (Excel Macro-Enabled Worksheet)
SAFTA Tool User Guide (Updated 11.17.19)
For technical assistance related to the SAFTA Tool, please contact: Jim Foley ([email protected]), Vice President, Training and Curriculum Development, National White Collar Crime Center.
Additional Resources
The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Justice. Funding for this project was provided by the Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice.
