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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse including neglect and exploitation. However, these statistics are an underestimate. Professionals who interact with the elderly describe being reluctant to report abuse due to a lack of knowledge of elder abuse, the reporting process, and the resources available to support victims. The invisibility of elder abuse has only increased during the 2020 COVID pandemic due to the increased social isolation of older adults and understaffed, overburdened health and social systems. Cross-disciplinary education for healthcare and social service practitioners, law enforcement, court personnel, families, and the older adults themselves is an essential component to identify and prevent elder abuse. This chapter provides an overview of elder abuse and neglect categories, risk factors, and best practice interventions advocated for addressing elder victimization.

Victim witness assistance programs are found throughout the United States. This paper analyzes one state's prosecution based victim witness programs and the individuals responsible for service delivery. We report on the services offered, a comparison tot he legislative intent, a description of the advocates and an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these programs. The findings suggest that prosecution based victim witness programs do little to meet most needs of crime victims. Additionally, the oversight of these programs by the local District Attorneys determines what services are offered and the role the advocates will assume.

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