The elder abuse toolkits were designed to provide general guidance on how to effectively prosecute cases and improve court responses. We encourage jurisdictions to modify the forms and checklists to match state legal requirements and local terminology and resources.
Elder Abuse Toolkit for Prosecutors
The purpose of the toolkit is to promote the effective prosecution of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Prosecution Guide. Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases: Basic Tools and Strategies offers guidance on building effective cases and achieving appropriate outcomes for victims. The guide reviews issues commonly arising in elder abuse cases, addresses evidentiary matters and use of experts, and highlights lessons drawn from three successful prosecutions. An evidence checklist outlines the types and sources of evidence that may be needed for building cases and proving different elder abuse crimes.
Prosecution Guide | ||
Forms and Checklists: | ||
Evidence Collection Checklist | Word |
Performance Measures. Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases: Proposed Performance Measures introduces eight measures that may be used by prosecutors to document activity and achieve more effective outcomes. This "how to" manual offers strategies for "flagging" elder abuse cases and provides logistics and tools required to collect, analyze and interpret each measure.
Prosecution Performance Measures | ||
Forms and Checklists: | ||
Case File Summary Form | Word | |
Evidence Collection Checklist | Word | |
Expert Consultant Assessment Form | Word | |
Prosecutor Checklist: Working with Older Victims | Word | |
Survey: Your Experience Working with the Prosecutor's Office | Word |
Collaboration Guide. Prosecution Guide to Effective Collaboration on Elder Abuse describes how prosecutors can provide leadership in multidisciplinary collaborations to more effectively identify and prosecute individual elder abuse cases as well as improve community responses and prevention efforts. The guide features examples of state and local collaboration models and provides online resources
Prosecution Collaboration Guide |
Elder Abuse Toolkit for Courts
The purpose of the toolkit is to improve court responses to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Benchcard. Identifying and Responding to Elder Abuse: A Benchcard for Judges is a template that outlines the problem of elder abuse and offers strategies the court can take to improve responses. The benchcard should be modified to reflect state statutes, court remediation and management tools, and local resources.
Benchcard | Word | |
Locally-Adapted Benchcard (Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit) | ||
Performance Measures. Elder Abuse Cases: Proposed Performance Measures for Courts introduces eight measures that may be used by court managers and judges as a way to increase effectiveness in handling elder abuse cases. Measures are discussed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, procedural satisfaction, and productivity.
Court Performance Measures | ||
Forms and Checklists: | ||
Case File Summary Form | Word | |
Court Checklist: Strategies for Hearing Cases Involving Older Victims | Word | |
Survey: Your Experience with Court | Word |
Collaboration Guide. Court Guide to Effective Collaboration on Elder Abuse suggests ways that multidisciplinary partnerships can assist courts in effectively responding to individual cases and in improving systemic community responses to elder abuse. Examples of collaboration models are featured.
Court Collaboration Guide |