As baby boomers (those born roughly between 1946 and 1964) age and more of their grown children live with them in multigenerational homes, the risk of physical and financial crimes against older adults increases. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers should therefore be prepared to identify and respond to these crimes.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) has funded the development of an unprecedented array of tools, training, and resources to inform and improve the criminal justice ability to protect older adults at risk. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is collaborating with EJI to inform our constituents about the interactive investigative tools, officer checklists, sample protocols, state statutes, webinars, podcasts, resource maps, and training videos available on the EJI law enforcement web page. All of these resources that are fully sponsored and available at no charge:

In-person Training

• NW3C Financial Crimes Against Seniors Seminars
  The National White Collar Crime Center can provide training on financial crimes against older adults in your community.

Online Tools, Online Training, and Resources

• Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement (EAGLE)
  EAGLE is a web module for law enforcement with a host of resources like a First Responder checklist; information on how to recognize an abuser; evidence collection tips; and a checklist to help law enforcement better respond to elder abuse cases, quickly locate resources in their area, and engage in training activities. (University of Southern California funded by EJI)
• Senior Abuse Financial Tracking and Accounting Tool (SAFTA)
  SAFTA is an easy-to-use Excel tool that provides a simplified method for identifying suspicious financial patterns to facilitate the prosecution of financial exploitation of older adults; it even includes a subpoena template.
• Responding to Elder Abuse: What Law Enforcement Should Know
  This 15-minute video describes what law enforcement needs to know about elder abuse.
• Identifying and Responding to Elder Abuse: An Officer’s Role
  This series of six roll call videos is designed to teach patrol officers to quickly recognize and respond to various types of elder abuse. (IACP funded by EJI)
• EJI Law Enforcement Webinars
  This series of webinars is specifically for law enforcement officers working on elder abuse crimes.
• Rural and Tribal Elder Justice Resource Guide
  This guide presents resources for professionals, including law enforcement, as well as resources for community outreach for agencies that may have limited resources.
• Legal Issues Related to Elder Abuse: A Pocket Guide for Law Enforcement
  This comprehensive guide for law enforcement responding to elder abuse includes a list of alternative charges for abusers and explanations for aspects of elder abuse such as powers of attorney and other legal terms.

COPS Office Publications

• Financial Crimes Against the Elderly Problem-Oriented Guide for Police (2004)
  Financial crimes against older adults fall under two general categories: (1) fraud committed by strangers and (2) financial exploitation by relatives and caregivers. This guide addresses the problem of financial crimes against older adults and helps law enforcement analyze their local problem. It reviews responses to the problem and describes the conditions in which they are most effective.
• Physical and Emotional Abuse of the Elderly Problem-Oriented Guide for Police (2010)
  This publication describes the problem of physical and psychological abuse of older adults, reviews factors that increase its risks, identifies a series of questions to help you analyze your local elder abuse problem, and reviews responses to the problem and what is known about these from evaluative research and police practice

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