Perspectives of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly: As stated, special training on how the police can recognize exploitation and interact with elderly victims is often insufficient. Yet even a trained and timely response can still be hindered by inherent investigative pitfalls. The elderly are referred to as "silent victims," not only because their victimization goes unreported,but also because they are unable or unwilling to provide witness to the crime to complete a criminal investigation. States have many regulatory and criminal laws that are designed to protect the elderly population. For example, Florida law makes it a felony to abuse, neglect, or exploit an elderly or disabled person; a special law automatically upgrades the criminal penalty for anyone who commits battery on a person 65-years of age or older. Besides mandatory reporting laws, there are state agencies that license, regulate and enforce all the professions that provide services to the elderly.
Public Perception: Because exploitation is misunderstood, those who witness it either do the wrong thing or nothing at all to prevent it.
Full Article and Source:
Why Exploitation Crimes Are Misunderstood by Government and the Public
See also:
Guardian Abuse: Keeping It In The Family
The OPPAGA Report
The Immoralities of Jennifer Smith
Financial Abuse of the Elderly
13 comments:
This is a must read. People don't understand why the FBI, AG, and their local police turn them away when they report guardianship abuse.
The more we know, the better we'll be for it.
Thank you.
Information + Knowledge = Power
Thank you! Joe Roubicek for making a difference to those who need it most.
It's good to get insight from the horse's mouth (not that you're a horse - I'm just using the expression Mr. Roubicek!!!).
We need to pay close attention to these valuable lessons.
I also think apathy is involved.
There's so much exploitation going on and in varying degrees, that perhaps society just gets immune to it until there's a really horiffic episode of abuse.
Good point about those witnessing elder abuse doing the wrong thing or nothing at all.
We are conditioned to believe we should call APS. What we don't know is calling APS may subject the very person we think we're helping to a lifetime of servitude under guardianship. So, we try to do the right thing - and instead do the wrong thing.
Great article, thanks for your insight Mr. Roubicek.
It's also about ageism. Our eldery are afraid to report a crime because if they do, they might not get all the facts right and they'd feel stupid. Society has conditioned this behavior and it's wrong.
Financial Abuse of the Elderly is a great book - everybody should read it!
I consider it a privilege and an honor to know Detective Joe Roubicek.
He is a unique individual who is relentless in his efforts to expose the growing silent shame of elder abuse.
His dedication, commitment and ongoing investigative efforts in the area of criminal activity of financial exploitation of the elderly, the vulnerable members of our society speaks volumes about him, his professionalism, his compassion and patience to get to the truth of the matter.
Thank you! Joe Roubicek.
(I am visiting family on Long Island at the moment)
THANK YOU all for your comments! Now (because I know you will be reading) I am motivated to post an important article on the difference between fraud and exploitation on my return next week. Good to apply to any financial abuse. Thanks again. :) Joe Roubicek
We will anxiously be waiting for your next article! You are very helpful!
Looking forward to more insight into these issues from Detective Joe. Please keep up the good work by being the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves for those who have been pushed aside, silenced.
I would think fraud and exploitation are so close, there's not a noticable difference?
The next article is going to be interesting!
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