Senate Committee Supports Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently introduced the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (S.178). The goal of S.178 is to minimize elder abuse and exploitation, and to establish an infrastructure within the justice system to better support victims in elder abuse and exploitation cases.

The bill calls for enhanced training of federal investigators and prosecutors. It would ensure that each federal judicial district has at least one prosecutor who is tasked with handling cases of elder abuse. It also promotes coordination and data collection at the federal level. To deter fraud, the bill strengthens penalties for scams that target senior citizens.

The bill also works to enhance victim assistance to elder abuse survivors, protect elders from telemarketing and email marketing fraud, and requires GOA to provide recommendations to Congress on programs and initiatives in the Federal criminal justice system relevant to elder abuse. The Senate Judiciary Committee has expressed its support for the legislation.