Elder / Dependent Abuse

Overview This unit prosecutes criminal cases of physical abuse, financial abuse, and false imprisonment of elder and dependent adults. An elder adult is a crime victim who was aged 65 and older at the time of the crime. A dependent adult is a crime victim who was between the ages of 18 and 64 when the crime occurred and either:

• Was admitted as an impatient to a 24-hour health facility, such as a nursing home or hospital
• Had physical or mental limitations that restrict his or her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights, including but not limited to:
  • persons who have physical or developmental disabilities
  • persons whose physical or mental abilities have diminished because of age