State’s Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Bureau

Assistant State’s Attorney Clarissa Palermo

SupervisorSeniors and Persons with Disabilities Unit

As the elder population

grows, so does their victimization

Chart of Population 60 and over by age: 1900 to 2050This chart shows the large increase in the population 60 and older from 4.9 million people in 1900 to 45.8 million in 2000 and projected to 92.2 million in 2030 and 112 million in 2050.

Incidence of abuse increases with age

Source: Illinois Department on Aging

Elder Abuse & Neglect Program

8%

12%15%

19%20%

26%

60-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 86+

Three fourths of the Victims are WOMEN

Source: Illinois Department on Aging Elder Abuse & Neglect Program

28%

72%

25%

75%

30%

70%

32%

68%

29%

71%Ph

ysic

al

Emot

iona

l

Neg

lect

Fina

ncia

l

All

Typ

es

MaleFemale

Children, relatives & spouses represent

75% of the abusers

Source: Illinois Department on Aging Elder Abuse & Neglect Program

39%

22%

14%

25%

Child Relative Spouse Other

YOU SUSPECT ABUSE OR NEGLECT

__________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT YOUSHOULD DO

YOU ARE A MANDATED REPORTER

REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO THE POLICE & WHOMEVER YOU ARE

MANDATED TO REPORT TO!

http://www.napsa-now.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Mandatory-Reporting-

Chart-Updated-FINAL.pdf

Evidence must be preserved.

Offenders must be stopped.

Reports must be taken when memories are fresh.

WHY?

Additional steps to take

which can help your

victim or facilitate a prosecution:

Have the victim removed from any dangerous living environment

Interview the victim outside the presence of family / friends /caretaker

Document, in writing, any statements made by the victim

TAKE PHOTOS OR ALLOW POLICE TO TAKE PHOTOS. REMEMBER, A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS…

Make past medical and psychiatric records available to the police and attorneys, especially regarding cognitive issues. Make current medical records available as well.

Obtain any information you can about family and friends regarding who wants to be contacted and how

Keep tabs on employees/witnesses once they leave the facility

Contact the State’s Attorneys’ Office if you have questions about how to proceed in an investigation

THE STATE’S ATTORNEY’S

ROLE

PRIOR TO CHARGING

Advise and Assist Police with the investigation once a report is made if such assistance is requested

Obtain Grand Jury subpoenas or court orders if police need them to secure documents, evidence or witnesses

Take handwritten statements from witnesses

Present witnesses to the Grand Jury

AFTER CHARGES

Meet with the victim early and often

Set the victim up with social services and/or victim/witness unit

Present preliminary hearing or seek grand jury indictment

Locate and prepare all witnesses for trial

Obtain and distribute all discovery documents required for trial

Videotape deposition of victim and/or witnesses if applicable

Pretrial motions

Meet with victim and/or family to discuss plea options

Trial and Sentencing

FACTUAL ISSUES THAT MAY HINDER

PROSECUTION

Report made long after physical injuries have healed and no medical help was sought

Witnesses have left place of employment and are difficult to find.

A mentally compromised victim

ACTUALCASE

EXAMPLES

Dark courtyard

Escape route

Some elders don’t want to be helped !