Virginia Attorney General announces new elder abuse investigation center | News

Richmond, Virginia. – Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Monday that a new elder abuse investigation center will open in central Virginia.

In addition to Attorney General Miyares, leaders from Central Virginia’s law enforcement and social services agencies were in attendance, including Hanover District Attorney Mackenzie Babichenko, Richmond District Attorney Colette McEachin, Chesterfield Police Interim Chief Brad Badgerow, and many others.

This Elder Abuse Investigation Center is a unit within the Attorney General’s Office that seeks to leverage partnerships with jurisdictions in Central Virginia to jointly investigate and prosecute cases of elder abuse in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes, including assault, neglect, sexual assault, violent crimes, and even death.

This center will work with a coalition of law enforcement, prosecutors, and senior advocates from the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights, and Chesterfield, Henrico, Hopewell, Hanover, Powhatan, and Goochland counties. Other jurisdictions are expected to join the initiative as well.

According to Miyares, elder abuse, crimes against seniors and vulnerable adults, is the fastest-growing crime in the country. Elder abuse includes physical abuse and financial exploitation. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, one in 10 Americans over the age of 60 has been a victim of abuse, and only one in 24 cases is reported to authorities.

Although there are similar coalitions to investigate elder abuse cases in other regions of Virginia, such as the Peninsula Elder Abuse Forensic Center, this is the first initiative in central Virginia, state officials said.

Contact Greg Jordan at [email protected]