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Access to justice for victims/survivors of elder abuse: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- CLARKE Alan, WILLIAMS John, WYDALL Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 15(2), 2016, pp.207-220.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Elder abuse can be conceptualised as a social problem, a crime problem and a human rights issue. This article presents the findings from an evaluation of the ‘Access to Justice’ Pilot Project for victims/survivors of elder abuse, which was launched in 2010 as part of the Welsh Government's six-year integrated strategy for tackling domestic abuse. It was designed to address the needs of older people in domestic settings and facilitate their access to criminal and civil justice options. Between April and July 2012, case study data were obtained for 131 individuals. A total of thirty-three interviews and a focus group were conducted with service providers, potential service users and practitioners drawn from relevant statutory and third sector groups. The article explores multi-agency responses to elder abuse and addresses the victim‒perpetrator dynamic. Reactive and proactive types of perpetrator behaviour are identified and interdependence is described as a feature of the victim‒perpetrator relationship. (Publisher abstract)
Financial exploitation of older persons in adult care settings: comparisons to physical abuse and the justice system's response
- Authors:
- PAYNE Brian K., STRASSER Sheryl M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 24(3), 2012, pp.231-250.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Previous studies have identified financial abuse as a common form of elder abuse. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of elder financial exploitation cases perpetrated against older people receiving long term care. Also investigated is the way that the processing of elder financial exploitation cases by the criminal justice system can be distinguished from that of cases of elder physical abuse. A sample of 242 elder financial abuse cases and 314 elder physical abuse cases handled by Medicaid Fraud Control Units were selected and analysed. The results show that a wide range of elder financial exploitations cases are committed. While the characteristics of elder financial abuse are similar in terms of the gender of the offender and victim, victims tend to be older, and offenders tend to come from a broader range of occupations. Four aspects of elder financial exploitation make it particularly troublesome: multiple victims, health issues, offense duration, and lack of witnesses. Comparison of the criminal penalties applied shows that the justice system views financial offenses equally serious to, if not more serious than, physical abuse cases. Implications for policy, practice and research are provided.
Sexual abuse of elderly people: would we rather not know the details?
- Author:
- JEARY Katharine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 6(2), September 2004, pp.21-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Considers the wide-ranging situations and circumstances in which sexual abuse of elderly people occurs and suggests that the complexities inherent in the issue mean that policy-makers and practitioners face real challenges in minimising future instances of victimisation. The paper is drawn from a research project, directed at the University of Nottingham by Professor Olive Stevenson and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
An evaluation of a program of volunteer advocates for elder abuse victims
- Author:
- FILINSON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 5(1), 1993, pp.77-93.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In Rhode Island, United States of America, the Elderly Abuse Support Project recruits, trains and places volunteers with elderly victims of abuse. Volunteers provide assistance and advocacy to victims in the utilization of the criminal justice system as well as more general social support. The forty-two elder abuse cases handled by the Project in its first 18 months of operation are compared with a control group of cases investigated by the state's elder abuse unit but not referred to the Project. The findings indicate that the volunteer advocate program, in comparison with the conventional system, can lead to more ambitious goal-setting, greater achievement of goals and more extensive monitoring of cases.
Crown Prosecution Service's draft policy statement on ‘crimes against the older person’
- Author:
- CONNOR Gillian
- Publisher:
- Age Concern
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 14p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This policy response to the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) draft policy statement on Crimes Against the Older Person, developed by Age Concern England and Age Concern Cymru, raises several key points and recommendations. These relate to the rationale for the policy statement and its scope, the range of suggested crimes affecting older people, an explanation of the role of the CPS and the Code for Crown Prosecutors, relevant possible charges, support available to older victims and witnesses, the position relating to sentencing, the recording and monitoring of crimes against older people, impact of the policy on older victims and witnesses, and the fairness to defendants.
Advancing the field of elder mistreatment: a new model for integration of social and medical services
- Authors:
- MOSQUEDA Laura, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 44(5), October 2004, pp.703-708.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The purpose of this work is to describe the development and operation of a new model for integration of medical and social services in the US. The Vulnerable Adult Specialist Team (VAST) provides Adult Protective Services (APS) and criminal justice agencies with access to medical experts who examine medical and psychological injuries of victims of elder abuse. This retrospective, descriptive analysis included community-dwelling elders and adults with disabilities who were reported for mistreatment and referred to VAST (n = 269). Most cases came from APS for mental status and physical examination for evidence of abuse. Cases referred to a medical response team (n = 269) were significantly different from cases that were not referred (n = 9,505). Ninety-seven percent of those who referred cases to VAST indicated that the team was helpful in confirming abuse, documenting impaired capacity, reviewing medications and medical conditions, facilitating the conservatorship process, persuading the client or family to take action, and supporting the need for law enforcement involvement. As a result, VAST has become institutionalized in our county. Amenable to replication, medical response teams for elder abuse may be useful in other counties across the nation.
Elder abuse intervention strategies: social service or criminal justice?
- Authors:
- BROWNWELL Patricia, WOLDEN Agata
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40(1/2), 2002, pp.83-99.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The debate in the field of elder abuse as to whether elder abuse is caused by caregiver stress or abuser impairment has precipitated a discussion as to whether elder abuse should be considered a social service issue, or a criminal justice problem Even when family violence rises to the level of a crime as defined by state penal code, some professionals argue that a social service approach is best suited to address this social problem. The study presented here compares an elder abuse programme providing social services to elder abuse victims with another serving elderly victims of crimes. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Crime, abuse and the elderly
- Authors:
- BROGDEN Mike, PREETI Nijhar
- Publisher:
- Willan
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 198p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cullompton
Examines the experiences of older people as both victims and perpetrators of crime. Drawing on British and North American research, it details the historical experience of the elderly as victims, the extent of present-day criminal victimisation in the home and institutions, the social theories which attempt to explain that experience, and the types of resolution available. Also addresses the experiences of elderly people in the criminal justice system, the offences they commit, and the implications for penal policy of an increase in the elderly penal population. It argues that much so-called abuse can be explained criminologically and should be dealt with by the criminal justice system rather than by treatment and welfare agencies.
Australian service providers' responses to elder abuse
- Authors:
- SADLER Paul M., KURRLE Susan E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 5(1), 1993, pp.57-75.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article presents the findings of a survey of 175 service providers in Sydney, Australia, the majority of whom were doctors in general practice. Thirty-two percent of respondents had countered cases of physical, psychological, or financial abuse or caregiver neglect of people 65 years old and over. Community nurses and social/welfare workers were particularly likely to have encountered cases of abuse. The findings suggest that coordination between health, welfare, and criminal justice agencies in Australia needs improvement. Policies to address elder abuse and neglect in Australia are in their infancy. As a priority governments should work towards effective training of professionals and appropriate intervention guidelines for services.
Adult protective services: research and practice
- Editors:
- BYERS Bryan, HENDRICKS James E.
- Publisher:
- Charles C. Thomas
- Publication year:
- 1993
- Pagination:
- 262p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Springfield, IL
Compendium of applied research into the application of adult protective service laws in the United States, designed to combat elder abuse and adult abuse and neglect. Paper 1 introduces adult protective services. Also includes papers on: adult and elder abuse; legal issues; adult protective services and the criminal justice system; and staff burnout in adult protective service work.