Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Policing Standards Manual (2000) PDF

Policing Standards Manual (2000) Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Legislative/Regulatory Requirements Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse. In addition, section 12(1)(f) requires the Chief of Pol...

Policing Standards Manual (2000) Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Legislative/Regulatory Requirements Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse. In addition, section 12(1)(f) requires the Chief of Police to develop and maintain procedures on and processes for undertaking and managing investigations into elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse. For the purposes of this guideline police services may wish to consider the following definition of elder abuse that is being used by the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat: “Any act that harms or threatens to harm the health or well-being of an older adult. Forms of abuse include psychological, financial and physical abuse, as well as neglect and sexual assault.” Police services may also wish to apply this definition of abuse for vulnerable adults. For the purposes of this guideline, vulnerable adult means: “A person who depends on others to meet every day needs because he/she has a mental illness or developmental disability, or requires long term or indefinite care due to age or medical condition.” Sample Board Policy Board Policy # ___________ It is the policy of the _____________ Police Services Board with respect to elder and vulnerable adult abuse that the Chief of Police will: a) where possible, work in partnership with the local Crown, municipalities, community and social service agencies/providers, businesses, seniors’ and other local organizations to develop programs for preventing and responding to complaints of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, including fraud awareness and prevention; and b) develop and maintain procedures that require that investigations into elder or vulnerable adult abuse be undertaken and managed in accordance with the police service’s criminal investigation management plan. February 2000 LE-021 1/2 Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General Policing Standards Manual (2000) Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Police Service Guidelines Multi1. Every Chief of Police should, where possible, work in partnership with the local disciplinary Crown, municipalities, community and social service agencies/providers, businesses, Coordination seniors’ and other local organizations to develop programs for preventing and responding to complaints of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, including fraud awareness and prevention. Procedures 2. Every police service’s procedures on elder and vulnerable adult abuse should: a) require that an investigation be undertaken or managed in accordance with the police service’s criminal investigation management plan; b) require that officers responding to an occurrence or undertaking an investigation should: i) ensure the safety of the victim; ii) assess the needs of the victim such as emergency shelter, finances, food, clothing and legal advice; and iii) refer the victim to access community and government resources for assistance when necessary; c) set out the steps to be followed to respond to and investigate the abuse of elder and vulnerable adults in residential care facilities and institutional settings, including liaising with the Chief Coroner’s Office, where appropriate; d) require liaison and information sharing with other police services and government agencies on issues relating to elder and vulnerable adult abuse, including fraud; and e) address the dissemination of information to the public on fraud against seniors, and other types of serial crime against seniors in the community. February 2000 LE-021 2/2 Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General