Exploring Restorative Justice as a Remedy for Elder Abuse and Exploitation

In this workshop, members of the Central New York Restorative Practices Coalition will share recent research and innovative practice addressing elder abuse and financial exploitation in the Central New York region. Barry Beck of Onondaga County Adult Protective Services will describe the development and activities of the Elder Justice Committee of the Syracuse Area Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition. This multidisciplinary group of organizations includes Vera House (a victim service provider), Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, prosecutors, aging services providers, senior housing, medical providers, and financial institutions. We will share how this group was formed, training activities, and other work completed in the Abuse in Later Life program, and the development of an Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (E-MDT). Jenny Ackley of Vera House will describe the development of the E-MDT, which meets monthly and includes a forensic accountant, to investigate, intervene in and prevent complex cases of abuse and financial exploitation of older adults in Onondaga County, and discuss how this model is being introduced to neighboring counties. Mary Helen McNeal of the Syracuse University College of Law will introduce the restorative justice system and various models being considered as approaches to addressing elder abuse in Central New York. Maria Brown of Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute will review findings from a recent interview study of service providers working with abused and exploited older adults in the Central New York area. The workshop will conclude with audience discussion of the applicability of restorative practices in addressing elder abuse and exploitation.