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Sen. Jessica Garvin
OKLAHOMA CITY – Each district attorney in Oklahoma will be required to form a team that investigates and prosecutes people accused of elder and vulnerable adult abuse if a Senate approved bill is signed into law.
Senate Bill 1163 passed the Senate 42-3 on March 14 and has been sent to the state House for consideration.
The measure was introduced by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, who said the bill was requested by the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council.
“When they reached out to me, I immediately said yes,” she said.
Oklahoma prosecutors have had child abuse prosecution teams for several years, and that’s proven effective, Garvin said.
“We want to do the same thing for our elderly and vulnerable. By collaborating with other entities already investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes, we can eliminate duplicative efforts, identify gaps in service and standardize investigative practices,” she said. “This will ensure these Oklahomans are better protected from predators and that abusers will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Each DA’s team would include a mental health professional, law enforcement agents trained in elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect investigations, medical personnel with relevant experience, the district attorney, Adult Protective Services and long-term care workers within the Department of Human Services.
The teams would conduct joint investigations, develop a written protocol for such investigations and collaborate with professionals responsible for the reporting and investigation of elder abuse.
The bill should not have an impact on the DA Council’s budget, according to a Senate staff report. The report also stated the similar child abuse teams have not had a direct impact on the council’s budget.
During fiscal year 2019, nearly 19,000 allegations of vulnerable adult abuse, neglect and exploitation were reported to the Adult Protective Services division of DHS.
In 2020, then-Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter and DHS announced an online campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse. The agency developed a toolkit for individuals to recognize the signs of abuse and neglect. Anyone who suspects abuse of an elderly or vulnerable person should call 1 (800) 522-3511 or report it immediately at www.abuseisnotOK.org.
Warning signs of a vulnerable adult include fear, anxiety or agitation, anger, isolation or withdrawal, depression, contradictory statements or implausible stories, hesitation to talk openly and confusion or disorientation, according to DHS.
Meanwhile, caregivers may prevent vulnerable adult from speaking to or seeing visitors or show aggressive behavior toward the elderly. The caregivers may also have a history of substance abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior or family violence. In addition, caregivers who hurt the vulnerable may display flirtation or coyness as possible indicators of an inappropriate sexual relationship, DHS states in its website.