Elder Abuse Prosecution
Elder Abuse Unit Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office DemographicsDemographics
ByBy 20302030 nationalnational elderlyelderly population:population: >70>70 millionmillion JeffersonJefferson CountyCounty populationpopulation 2000:2000: 535,837535,837 JeffersonJefferson CountyCounty elderlyelderly populationpopulation (65+):(65+): 2000: 51,131 (10%) 2010: 69,129 (12.5%) 2020: 119,110 (20%) 2030: 164,761 (24.6%) (source:Jefferson County Planning and Zoning) ExtentExtent ofof thethe ProblemProblem
BetweenBetween oneone andand twotwo millionmillion AmericansAmericans ageage 6565 oror olderolder havehave beenbeen injured,injured, exploitedexploited oror mistreatedmistreated byby aa caregiver.caregiver. (Source: 2003 National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect.) OnlyOnly oneone inin twentytwenty fivefive casescases ofof financialfinancial exploitationexploitation ofof thethe elderlyelderly areare reported.reported.
(Source: Consumer’s Digest, 2000) 92%92% ofof nursingnursing homeshomes havehave employeeemployee withwith criminalcriminal conviction.conviction. (Source: March, 2011 Report of Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services) ExtentExtent ofof thethe ProblemProblem NationalNational CommitteeCommittee forfor thethe PreventionPrevention ofof ElderElder AbuseAbuse (NCPEA):(NCPEA): AnnualAnnual financialfinancial lossloss byby elderlyelderly victimsvictims ofof financialfinancial abuseabuse estimatedestimated atat $2.9$2.9 billion.billion. WomenWomen areare twicetwice asas likelylikely toto bebe victimsvictims ofof elderelder financialfinancial abuseabuse thanthan men.men. MostMost victimsvictims werewere betweenbetween agesages ofof 8080 andand 8989 60%60% ofof perpetratorsperpetrators werewere male.male.
“Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America’s Elders”, June, 2011 SpecialSpecial ConcernsConcerns
HowHow havehave thesethese casescases beenbeen handledhandled inin thethe past?past? By law enforcement? By DA’s? OurOur prosecutionprosecution philosophy:philosophy: Caregivers Family Those who prey on elders CollaborationCollaboration (law(law enforcement,enforcement, APS,APS, nonnon-- profitsprofits andand carecare providers).providers). WhatWhat isis elderelder abuse?abuse?
CrimeCrime thatthat isis anan exploitationexploitation ofof ageage oror wherewhere impactimpact isis moremore severesevere duedue toto age.age. AgeAge 6060 andand aboveabove PhysicalPhysical abuseabuse Assaults, harassment PhysicalPhysical neglectneglect Neglect that leads to risk of injury or actual injury SexualSexual abuseabuse FinancialFinancial exploitationexploitation LegalLegal ToolsTools WrongsWrongs toto AtAt--RiskRisk Adults,Adults, §§1818--6.56.5--101101 ““.. .. .at.at--riskrisk adultsadults ...... areare moremore vulnerablevulnerable toto andand disproportionatelydisproportionately damageddamaged byby crimecrime inin generalgeneral ...... becausebecause theythey areare lessless ableable toto protectprotect themselvesthemselves againstagainst offenders,offenders, aa numbernumber ofof whomwhom areare inin positionspositions ofof trusttrust ...... ””
““TheThe generalgeneral assemblyassembly thereforetherefore findsfinds thatthat penaltiespenalties forfor specifiedspecified crimescrimes committedcommitted againstagainst atat--riskrisk adultsadults ...... shouldshould bebe moremore severe.severe. .. ..”” AtAt--RiskRisk AdultsAdults ““AtAt--riskrisk adultadult”” meansmeans anyany personperson whowho isis sixtysixty yearsyears ofof ageage oror olderolder oror anyany personperson whowho isis eighteeneighteen yearsyears ofof ageage oror olderolder andand isis aa personperson withwith aa disability.disability. .. .. ““ *(Different definition than that which appears in Human Services Code)
““neglectneglect”” occursoccurs whenwhen adequateadequate food,food, clothing,clothing, shelter,shelter, psychologicalpsychological care,care, physicalphysical care,care, medicalmedical care,care, oror supervisionsupervision isis notnot securedsecured forfor thethe atat--riskrisk adultadult oror isis notnot providedprovided byby aa caretakercaretaker inin aa timelytimely mannermanner ...... 26-3.1-101, C.R.S. AtAt--RiskRisk CrimesCrimes
NegligentNegligent injuryinjury –– §§1818--6.56.5--103(1)103(1) andand (2)(2) AssaultsAssaults -- §§1818--6.56.5--103(3)103(3) RobberyRobbery -- §§1818--6.56.5--103(4)103(4) SexSex AssaultAssault -- §§1818--6.56.5--103(7)103(7)
AllAll otherother crimescrimes (ID(ID theft,theft, forgery,forgery, etc.)etc.) stillstill applyapply toto elderlyelderly butbut therethere isis nono enhancedenhanced penaltypenalty ProfileProfile ofof TypicalTypical AbuserAbuser
SonSon inin latelate 3030’’ss toto latelate 4040’’ss LivingLiving atat homehome withwith mothermother Divorced/returnsDivorced/returns homehome oror singlesingle andand unmotivatedunmotivated oror justjust outout ofof jailjail LazyLazy andand unemployedunemployed Drugs,Drugs, alcohol,alcohol, gamblinggambling HistoryHistory ofof mentalmental illnessillness (source: Paul Greenwood) PhysicalPhysical AbuseAbuse WarningWarning signssigns
WarningWarning signssigns physicalphysical abuse:abuse: Unexplained bruises, scratches, burns Broken bones Pinches, pulls hair slaps non-medically prescribed restraints Excuses:Excuses: “she bruises easily” “she fell” CaretakerCaretaker NeglectNeglect CaretakerCaretaker NeglectNeglect AnyAny personperson whowho knowinglyknowingly neglectsneglects anan atat--riskrisk adultadult oror knowinglyknowingly actsacts inin aa mannermanner likelylikely toto bebe injuriousinjurious toto thethe physicalphysical oror mentalmental welfarewelfare ofof anan atat--riskrisk adult.adult. (M1)(M1) CaretakerCaretaker NeglectNeglect ““NeglectNeglect”” occursoccurs whenwhen adequateadequate food,food, clothing,clothing, shelter,shelter, psychologicalpsychological care,care, physicalphysical care,care, medicalmedical care,care, oror supervisionsupervision isis notnot securedsecured forfor thethe atat--riskrisk adultadult oror isis notnot providedprovided byby aa caretakercaretaker inin aa timelytimely mannermanner andand withwith thethe degreedegree ofof carecare thatthat aa reasonablereasonable personperson inin thethe samesame situationsituation wouldwould exercise.exercise. Section 26-3.1-101(4), C.R.S. ““caretakercaretaker”” cancan bebe oneone whowho assumesassumes responsibilityresponsibility forfor thethe carecare ofof anan atat--riskrisk adult.adult. (Not(Not needneed legallegal relationship).relationship). Section 26-3.1-101(2), C.R.S. CaretakerCaretaker NeglectNeglect Relevant inquiries: Clutter Food on hand Irregular meals Last time bathed Observations of uncleanliness Condition of home in relation to disabilities or special care needs Medical care Financial relationships in household Isolation / withholding access to family and friends Red Flags: New person in life New person doing all of the talking SexualSexual AbuseAbuse SexualSexual AbuseAbuse
Statutes are the same as for adults except enhanced penalties If dealing with incompetent victim have: Victim incapable of appraising nature of V conduct, 18-3- 404(b), C.R.S. Victim is physically helpless and victim has not consented, 18- 3-404(c), C.R.S. “consent”: means cooperation in act or attitude pursuant to an exercise of free will and with knowledge of the act. 18-3- 401(1.5), C.R.S. In many cases must rely on physical indicators rather than victim My biggest caution is don’t think it doesn’t happen. FinancialFinancial ExploitationExploitation FinancialFinancial ExploitationExploitation
TheftTheft (jewelry,(jewelry, checkbook,checkbook, creditcredit cards)cards) DocumentDocument fraudfraud Power of attorney Quitclaim deeds New will ContractorContractor fraudfraud TelemarketingTelemarketing scamsscams LotteryLottery ScamsScams AtAt--RiskRisk CrimesCrimes TheftTheft isis ourour mainstaymainstay crimecrime forfor financialfinancial exploitation.exploitation. TheftTheft generally:generally: 1.1. offenderoffender knowinglyknowingly 2.2. obtainsobtains oror exercisesexercises controlcontrol overover 3.3. thingthing ofof valuevalue ofof victimvictim 4.4. withoutwithout authorizationauthorization oror byby deception,deception, andand 5.5. intendsintends toto permanentlypermanently deprivedeprive thethe victimvictim ofof thethe itemitem’’ss useuse oror benefit.benefit. AtAt--RiskRisk CrimesCrimes Problems:Problems: 1.1. TheftsThefts ofof littlelittle valuevalue 2.2. BreachBreach ofof trusttrust Ebony Butler
Russel Mayer AtAt--RiskRisk CrimesCrimes
TheftTheft fromfrom anan atat--riskrisk adult:adult: THEFTTHEFT and:and: 1. Commits any element or portion of offense in the presence of the victim, or 2. Theft committed by one in position of trust
F3F3 ifif >$500>$500 F5F5 ifif <$500<$500 F4F4 ifif thefttheft fromfrom personperson UniformUniform PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney ActAct PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney AbuseAbuse
MostMost commoncommon typetype ofof financialfinancial crimecrime II amam seeingseeing POAPOA isis anan incrediblyincredibly powerfulpowerful documentdocument RealityReality isis mostmost scamsscams onon elderlyelderly areare sophisticatedsophisticated enoughenough toto avoidavoid easyeasy detectiondetection oror prosecutionprosecution PreprintedPreprinted POAPOA’’ss areare readilyreadily availableavailable andand easyeasy toto executeexecute UniformUniform PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney ActAct NewNew setset ofof rulesrules inin place:place: UniformUniform PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney ActAct (UPOA)(UPOA) TookTook effecteffect 1/1/101/1/10 NationalNational recognitionrecognition ofof gapsgaps inin effectivenesseffectiveness andand abuseabuse ofof POAPOA’’ss PrimarilyPrimarily createscreates defaultdefault provisionsprovisions ProvidesProvides somesome extraextra protectionsprotections forfor banksbanks andand otherother financialfinancial institutionsinstitutions PrimarilyPrimarily affectsaffects civilcivil lawlaw butbut somesome criminalcriminal applications.applications. PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney AbuseAbuse TwoTwo commoncommon typestypes ofof situations:situations:
1.1. FamilyFamily membersmembers abuseabuse powerpower ofof attorneyattorney 2.2. StrangerStranger oror acquaintanceacquaintance insinuatesinsinuates selfself intointo lifelife ofof elderelder andand obtainsobtains POAPOA
CommonCommon reaction:reaction: ““thatthat isis civil,civil, wewe cancan’’tt dodo anythinganything aboutabout it.it.”” PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney AbuseAbuse
TurkishTurkish ImmigrantImmigrant case:case: Helps son buy home After difficulties wants off mortgage She signs document believing gets her off mortgage – in reality it is POA Drains bank account Quitclaims properties Opens new credit accounts PerceivedPerceived problems:problems: voluntaryvoluntary agreement,agreement, intraintra--familyfamily relations,relations, possiblepossible recantationrecantation UniformUniform PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney ActAct
ReasonableReasonable compensationcompensation ofof anan agentagent isis permissible.permissible. §§1515--1414--712,712, C.R.S.C.R.S. UniformUniform PowerPower ofof AttorneyAttorney ActAct DutiesDuties ofof anan Agent.Agent. §§1515--1414--714,714, C.R.S.C.R.S. Act in accordance with principal’s expectations Avoid conflicts of interest Act with care, competence and diligence Act in good faith Act within scope of POA Act loyally Keep a record of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions Preserve estate plan of principal POAPOA –– specificspecific grantsgrants ofof authorityauthority §§1515--1414--724,724, C.R.S.C.R.S. ““HotHot powerspowers”” –– agentagent mustmust havehave aa specificspecific grantgrant ofof authorityauthority fromfrom principalprincipal forfor thethe followingfollowing transactions:transactions: Create, amend, revoke a trust Make a gift Create or change beneficiary designations Non-family member cannot create an interest in the principal’s property for self or others. POAPOA -- suggestionssuggestions
TheseThese areare notnot allall civil.civil. WeWe cancan prosecuteprosecute manymany ofof thesethese crimes.crimes. WeWe cannotcannot dodo anythinganything unlessunless theythey areare reportedreported NeglectNeglect andand exploitationexploitation gogo handhand inin hand.hand. LegalLegal protectionsprotections forfor reportsreports mademade inin goodgood faithfaith JointJoint AccountAccount FraudFraud Problem:Problem: offenderoffender hashas jointjoint accessaccess toto bankbank accountaccount ofof elderlyelderly person.person. AA jointlyjointly heldheld accountaccount isis subjectsubject toto aa presumptionpresumption thatthat moneymoney heldheld inin thethe accountaccount belongsbelongs to,to, andand cancan bebe accessedaccessed equally,equally, byby allall accountaccount holders.holders. Bryant v. Community Choice Credit Union, 160 P.3d 266 (Colo.App. 2007). However,However, ifif bankbank hashas directdirect knowledgeknowledge thethe transferstransfers areare inconsistentinconsistent withwith directivesdirectives ofof accountaccount holderholder thenthen maymay bebe liability.liability. Difficult,Difficult, butbut notnot impossible,impossible, toto prove.prove. SameSame suggestionssuggestions asas forfor POA.POA. CaretakerCaretaker ExploitationExploitation
HomeHome caretakercaretaker exploitsexploits role:role: Nurse or house cleaner Gets access to finances (most without POA) May open credit cards or write checks Begins as legitimate. Escalates to small “loans” and then outright thefts. SuggestionsSuggestions:: getget familyfamily involved,involved, getget consentconsent forfor bankbank records,records, showshow extentextent ofof harm.harm. ContractorContractor FraudFraud
UnderUnder oror unqualifiedunqualified contractorcontractor PerformsPerforms workwork atat highlyhighly inflatedinflated priceprice PerformsPerforms substandardsubstandard workwork ContractorContractor FraudFraud
WhenWhen wewe prosecuteprosecute:: HaveHave theythey beenbeen sanctionedsanctioned byby anyany licensinglicensing authority?authority? WhatWhat otherother complaintscomplaints made?made? BBB.BBB. WhatWhat verbalverbal oror writtenwritten inducementsinducements mademade toto getget contract?contract? Intimidation?Intimidation? StringingStringing behavior?behavior? CommonCommon MythsMyths ofof FinancialFinancial ElderElder AbuseAbuse 1.1. ElderlyElderly refusalrefusal toto cooperatecooperate // recantationrecantation (Elder(Elder abuseabuse isis wherewhere DVDV andand childchild abuseabuse waswas 3030 yearsyears ago.)ago.) • §16-3-201, C.R.S. 2.2. IfIf elderlyelderly personperson gavegave moneymoney voluntarilyvoluntarily thenthen notnot crimecrime (undue(undue influence)influence) 3.3. ShouldShould bebe leftleft toto familyfamily toto resolveresolve 4.4. VictimVictim diesdies beforebefore discoverydiscovery ofof crimecrime 5.5. FinancialFinancial casescases mustmust bebe civilcivil 6.6. MoreMore importantimportant casescases toto prosecuteprosecute ReportingReporting ofof ElderElder AbuseAbuse andand FinancialFinancial ExploitationExploitation ColoradoColorado isis oneone ofof threethree statesstates thatthat doesdoes notnot havehave elderelder abuseabuse mandatorymandatory reporting.reporting. WeWe areare tryingtrying toto changechange thatthat ProfessionalsProfessionals areare stronglystrongly urgedurged toto reportreport knownknown oror suspectedsuspected abuse,abuse, neglectneglect oror financialfinancial exploitationexploitation ofof adults.adults. §§2626--3.13.1-- 104(1).104(1). TimelinessTimeliness
TimeTime maymay bebe criticalcritical onon thesethese casescases StatuteStatute ofof limitationslimitations SpeedySpeedy trialtrial NeedNeed toto preservepreserve testimonytestimony depositionsdepositions NeedNeed toto collectcollect evidenceevidence beforebefore itit isis destroyeddestroyed NeedNeed toto ““stopstop thethe bleedingbleeding”” LastlyLastly ......
““PowerPointPowerPoint makesmakes usus stupidstupid”” General James N. Mattis United States Marine Corps Joint Forces Commander