A state Assembly bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) that would increase the fines for financial crimes committed against elderly and dependent adults was unanimously passed Thursday and will head to the state Senate for consideration.AB332, which passed 78-0, would increase the fines from $1,000 to $2,500 for embezzlement, forgery, fraud or identity theft against an elder or dependent adult for a misdemeanor offense of more than $950. The bill also would enable felony charges for some theft crimes against the elderly with fines of up to $1,000. The increased penalties would be in addition to any jail or prison sentences.
Over the past 10 years there were 4,735 convictions in California for embezzlement, forgery, fraud and identity theft against elders and dependent adults, according to the California Department of Justice.
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Butler's Bill Targeting Elderly Abuse Passes Assembly
Increasing penalties for such crimes is no deterrent for abusers who exploit the loopholes in our laws which allow them to get away with these crimes. Increasing penalties is what legislators do who want to make it look like they are doing something about these crimes without really doing anything. I first saw this game played 15 years ago here in Ohio when a lawmaker who, during his election campaign pledged his support in public for the legal reform I advocated, chose instead to merely increase the penalties.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, tvfields. This is a good first step.Now let's get them to add guardianship abuse as a recognized form of elder abuse.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you tvfields. From what I have encountered the main problem is that those who put us in this predicament do it "legally" and are therefore untouchable. After all they are just doing their "job". It is all about the money, and the worst abusers are those who ignore the real problems in order to keep their jobs. Any doctor can sign a form, and take away all your rights, no trail judge or jury. Try fighting this. I am in this situation and there is absolutely no system there to protect me from these scoundrels who hide under the guise of the so called law. I am lucky enough that I did have all my faculties working when this happened and moved to an area where they have no authority over me. But they stole everything I owned. Now that all my assets have been pilfered away it will be interesting to see their next move.
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