Published Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 | 9:28 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 | 12:30 p.m.
The district attorney in Las Vegas is responding to cases involving crimes against people over 60 years old by assigning a team of prosecutors to handle them.
The move this week followed the submittal of almost 100 cases from police in the Las Vegas area that qualified for elder abuse prosecution in 2014 and the first half of 2015, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in a statement.
"These crimes target some of our most vulnerable citizens, can be devastating to a family, and have far-reaching impacts on our community as a whole," Wolfson said.
Nevada state law classifies elderly as people older than 60. Audrie Locke, spokeswoman for the district attorney, said Thursday the idea is to have prosecutors who can recognize and prosecute elder abuse cases from beginning to end.
Crimes can include physical and mental abuse, neglect, isolation and financial exploitation, Wolfson said. Criminals might loot a victim's bank accounts, steal belongings or property, fail to meet basic medical needs, and isolate the victim to hide the crime.
The new unit brings to 10 the number of prosecutorial teams in the Las Vegas district attorney's office. Others are special victims and sex crimes, domestic violence, gangs, weapons, vehicular crimes, fraud, bad checks, major violators and drugs.
Wolfson said giving responsibility for elder abuse cases to two deputy district attorneys won't affect his office budget.
Sheri "Sugar" Vogel, director of the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program in Las Vegas, said in the statement that many cases involve victims who know their abuser.
"All too often, those abused are dependent, in some way," Vogel said. "It is important that their call for help will not fall on deaf ears."
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