News 12 at Six O'Clock/June 15, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga-- It affects more than 2 million older Americans a year, according to the American Pyschological Association. Famous actor Mickey Rooney has even fallen victim. And it's one of the most under-reported crimes.

We're talking about elder abuse: crimes committed against those 65 and older, whether it's physical, sexual, or financial.

New efforts are aiming to reverse these statistics.

You may remember these recent cases:

71-year-old Edna Storey, the Aiken County woman attacked in her own store in April. 84-year-old Carol Knight, the Johnston woman beaten in her PK Restaurant. Just recently, 81-year-old Johnny Luckey was murdered in his Hephzibah home.

Assistant District Attorney for the Savannah area Nathanael Wright says, "We are seeing more and more instances, however, we are not seeing as much as we should be seeing because people don't report it. They say that we are with elder abuse now, where domestic violence was 20 years ago."

Wright is one of a few prosecutors in Georgia who focus on elder abuse.

Wednesday was the Third Annual Elder Rights Conference for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

At the conference, more than 250 professionals and people gathered.
Senior Citizens Council Executive Director Kathleen Ernce says, "Bottom line it happens. We don't like to think that elder abuse happens in Augusta Georgia, Richmond County, Columbia County, but like Nathanael Wright says, it happens to rich people and poor people."

For those victims who have memory loss, Wright says that is when a papertrail is most vital.

For those that prey on these people, you could face increased punishment.

For crimes committed against a person over 65, the minimum jail sentence can increase. For example:

Aggravated Assault: Usually 1-20 years--Over 65 years old--it's 3-20 years.
Aggravated Battery: Usually 1-20 years--Over 65 years old--it's 5-20 years.
Robbery:Usually 1-20 years-Over 65 years old-it's 5-20 years.

Wright says, "It's really hard to prosecute cases when law enforcement is not informed. It's not their fault. They just don't know what to do."

He says sometimes they just don't know some of the statutes that protect elders, but a new program could change that.

Wright says, "There's actually a certification program now that's like a 3-day program that police can go to and can be trained on what to look for on elder abuse."

The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services will deploy a statewide training program called ACT. ACT stands for At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics and upon completion of the training, the person will be designated as a Certified At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist through the Division of Aging Services.

This all started in April 2011 because of Georgia's inconsistency when prosecuting and investigating these cases. ACT will tackle the state in regions and is expected in the CSRA in the Fall.

The 3-day course will be offered to law enforcement. public safety, prosecutors, judges, courts, healthcare providers, coroners, medical examiners, Adult Protective Services, Sexual Asssault Nurse Examiner, social service agencies, Healthcare Facility Regulation, and any other agency having primary or secondary responsibility for providing services to at-risk adults.

It is voluntary and free.