Crimes Against the Elderly

A Message from Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal on Crimes Against the Elderly

In 2007 the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office announced a task force to address Crimes Against the Elderly. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, for every one case of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation that is reported, an additional five more go unreported. Our guiding philosophy is that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – that it is far better to prevent the harm before someone is victimized and money is lost.

The first action of the task force was to organize a full day training on “Crimes Against the Elderly” involving both law enforcement and community organizations. Our goals were to emphasize Crimes Against the Elderly as a community priority, foster ongoing communication between the prosecutor’s office and local law enforcement regarding the investigation and prosecution of such crimes, and promote greater cooperation with community organizations concerned with the needs of the elderly population.

Since 2007, we have maintained a focus on prevention and public education regarding crimes that disproportionately affect the elderly population. These initiatives have addressed financial exploitation, home improvement fraud, identity theft, and hiring an in-home caregiver. Each public education campaign has included informational videos, fact sheets, written articles and public presentations. These efforts provide people with the tools they need in order to avoid problems, and information about where to turn for help if a problem occurs.

The Prosecutor’s Office works closely with local organizations concerned with public safety issues affecting the elderly such as Area 10 Agency on Aging, Indiana Legal Services and others. I invite you to learn more about our prevention initiatives and public education campaigns involving Crimes Against the Elderly.

Chris Gaal
Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney