NATIONAL SHERIFF ASSOCIATION - TRIAD `94'

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

BY

AILEEN ADAMS

DIRECTOR, OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

OCTOBER 29, 1994

I AM VERY HONORED TO BE YOUR LUNCHEON SPEAKER TODAY AT TRIAD `94'. I WAS RECENTLY CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE AND OFFICIALLY SWORN INTO OFFICE ONLY LAST THURSDAY, SO THIS IS MY FIRST OFFICIAL SPEECH AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.

LAST YEAR IN HIS REMARKS ON THE SIGNING OF THE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH PROCLAMATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON REMINDED US OF ONE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS OF GROWING OLDER. HE SAID AND I QUOTE:

"ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT AGE DOES FOR ALL OF US IS IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO LAUGH AT THINGS THAT ONCE WE WOULD HAVE CRIED ABOUT, SOMETHING I'VE NEEDED MORE AND MORE (HE SAID) AS I'VE TAKEN THIS JOB."

I AM GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THIS ADVICE IN MIND AS I BEGIN MY NEW JOB.

FOR SEVERAL REASONS, I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO A GROUP COMMITTED TO REDUCING CRIMES AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS IN MY FIRST OFFICIAL SPEECH. CRIME AGAINST OLDER PERSONS HAS BEEN A GREAT CONCERN OF MINE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. WHILE WORKING TO CURB THESE CRIMES AS A CITY PROSECUTOR IN THE LATE 1970'S, I LEARNED MUCH OF WHAT I NOW KNOW ABOUT THE STRATEGIES THAT WORK TO PREVENT CRIMES AND ENFORCE THE LAW. ALSO, AS SOMEONE WHO WILL RECEIVE HER AARP CARD WITHIN A FEW SHORT WEEKS, I HAVE A GROWING PERSONAL STAKE IN YOUR AGENDA AND YOUR PROGRAMS! AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF OVC, I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ENCOURAGE YOUR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL TRIAD PROGRAMS AND TO HELP BRING THE EFFECTIVE MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN SOME COMMUNITIES TO ALL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I ALSO BRING GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO WHO HAS BEEN STRONGLY COMMITTED TO REDUCING CRIMES AGAINST OLDER PERSONS SINCE SHE WAS A FLORIDA COUNTY PROSECUTOR. IN HER RECENT ADDRESS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OLDER AMERICAN CAUCUS' ROUNDTABLE ON ELDER ABUSE, SHE DESCRIBED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PROSECUTING VIGOROUSLY BOTH VIOLENT AND ECONOMIC CRIMES AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS AND TO COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CURB THESE CRIMES.

I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THREE THINGS: THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN COMBATING CRIME; SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF OUR NEW CRIME LAW WHICH PARTICULARLY IMPACT OLDER AMERICANS; AND THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, WHICH WE FONDLY REFER TO AS OVC. I WANT TO SHARE THE RESOURCES AND THE MISSION OF MY NEW OFFICE WITH YOU BECAUSE I HOPE THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE ON PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT OLDER AMERICANS.

I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY IN THE LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE. OUR OFFICE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PATIENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOCAL NURSING HOME ABUSES, AND I VOLUNTEERED TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN. TO BEGIN UNDERSTANDING THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM, I REVIEWED EVERY NURSING HOUSE INSPECTION REPORT PREPARED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE PRIOR THREE YEARS. I WAS SHOCKED BY WHAT I READ! MANY HOMES HAD DOZEN AND DOZEN OF VIOLATIONS --- DOCUMENTED EXAMPLES OF PATIENTS WHO WERE BEATEN BY STAFF; PATIENTS WHO WERE LIVING IN UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, LYING FOR HOURS IN THEIR OWN EXCREMENT; INADEQUATELY TRAINED STAFF; INEDIBLE FOOD; DELIBERATE OVERSEDATION OF PATIENTS; AND REPRISALS AGAINST PATIENTS WHO COMPLAINED --- TO NAME JUST A FEW. WHAT WAS EVEN MORE SHOCKING TO ME AS A PROSECUTOR WAS THE FACT THAT EACH OF THE DEFICIENCIES NOTED IN THE INSPECTION REPORTS WERE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL LAW --- A CRIMINAL ACT. BUT NONE OF THESE FACILITIES WITH REPEATED VIOLATIONS HAD EVER BEEN PROSECUTED.

WE DECIDED TO APPROACH THIS PROBLEM IN A HOLISTIC WAY, USING EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE. WE FORMED A NURSING HOME ADVISORY TASK FORCE, MADE UP OF OLDER AMERICANS AND OTHER ACTIVISTS IN THE FIELD, TO HELP US CHART A COURSE. WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION AND ASSISTANCE, WE HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS AT WHICH OVER 500 WITNESSES TESTIFIED, DOCUMENTING MANY FURTHER PATIENT ABUSES. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE, WE SYSTEMATICALLY FILED CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST MANY FACILITY OWNERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF MEMBERS. THIS ACTION SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER PROSECUTORS AROUND THE STATE FOLLOWED OUR LEAD. OUR OFFICE PROVIDED INTENSIVE TRAINING TO HEALTH INSPECTORS TO IMPROVE THEIR DOCUMENTATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. WE PUBLISHED A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO LOS ANGELES NURSING HOMES TO INFORM PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, HOW TO SUBMIT NURSING HOME COMPLAINTS, AND HOW TO IDENTIFY GOOD FACILITIES. WE PROPOSED A MODEL NURSING PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND A NURSING HOME ADVOCATE ACCESS LAW TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS COULD VISIT FACILITIES AND REPORT ABUSES. OUR GROUP ALSO WORKED TO CREATE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, URGING THAT MORE MONEY BE PROVIDED TO ASSIST OLDER AMERICANS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY IN AN EFFORT THAT INVOLVED SEVERAL DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKING WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITY GROUPS, I AM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THREE CONCEPTS AS AN APPROACH FOR PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO ALL CRIME: I BELIEVE IN THE CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS; I BELIEVE IN THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COMBATING CRIME --- UTILIZING EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE -- FROM PREVENTION TO PROSECUTION -- TO CURB THE ABUSE. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT VICTIMS THEMSELVES SHOULD HAVE A STRONG VOICE IN SETTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY.

THE TRIAD PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY EXEMPLIFY THESE THREE GOALS. THEY ENCOURAGE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AARP, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. THEY USED FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP EXPAND THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY USE MANY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO INVOLVE AND BENEFIT BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SENIORS. AND HELPING DIRECT TRIAD ACTIVITIES -- AT THE CENTER OF POLICY MAKING -- ARE CRIME VICTIMS THEMSELVES. I WAS FASCINATED TO LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS APPROACHES USED FROM OVC STAFF MEMBER DUANE RAGAN, WHO IS ATTENDING THIS CONFERENCE. HE SPOKE OF PERSONAL VISITS BY OFFICERS TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN HIGH CRIME AREAS; THE SENIOR ALERT COURSES; TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SENSITIZE THEM TO CONCERNS OF OLDER AMERICANS AND THEIR RESPONSE TO VICTIMIZATION; THE SENIOR SAFE SHOPPING TRIPS FOR GROCERIES; DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY ACTION SURVEYS TO OLDER PERSONS TO IDENTIFY THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF SENIORS; THE SENIORS CRIME LINE, A TELEPHONE HOTLINE FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED FRAUDS AND SCAMS --- TO NAME A FEW.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT OVC WOULD LIKE TO HELP DUPLICATE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. WE WANT TO STRATEGIZE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE MOST HELPFUL IN DOING THAT. CAN WE HELP DUPLICATE YOUR PROGRAMS ON FEDERAL LANDS --- ON MILITARY BASES --- OR ON TRIBAL LANDS? CAN WE ENCOURAGE LOCAL AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, WHO HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO LEARN ABOUT CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND RESOURCES TO OFFER IN CURBING THESE CRIMES, TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN TRIAD PROGRAMS? CAN WE FUND SPEAKERS TO GO INTO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TRAIN INTERESTED GROUPS? CAN WE FUND A VIDEO THAT WOULD DESCRIBE ALL OF THE EXISTING, EXCITING TRIAD PROJECT APPROACHES TO COMBATING CRIME?

I WANT TO DESCRIBE OVC TO YOU BRIEFLY SO THAT YOU CAN HELP US DETERMINE HOW WE CAN BEST ASSIST YOUR IMPORTANT MISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED BY OUR SISTER AGENCIES, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AND THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, WHOSE REPRESENTATIVE BOB BROWN IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, OVC, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1984 AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF ADVOCATE FOR AMERICA'S CRIME VICTIMS. OUR MISSION CAN BE CONCISELY STATED: JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR CRIME VICTIMS. WE STRIVE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. I'LL NAME JUST A FEW. OVC ADMINISTERS THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND, WHICH IS DERIVED, NOT FROM TAX DOLLARS, BUT FROM FINES PAID BY FEDERAL DEFENDANTS. WE DISTRIBUTE MOST OF THE MONEY COLLECTED --- THIS YEAR ABOUT $175,000,000 --- TO STATES. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT MORE THAN 2,500 LOCAL VICTIM SERVICE AGENCIES --- COUNSELING PROGRAMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, CHILD ADVOCACY AND RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, AS WELL AS STATE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS --- THE LIFELINE SERVICES THAT ENABLE MANY VICTIMS TO HEAL.

OVC ALSO SPONSORS TRAINING COURSES THAT REACH ACROSS AMERICA. FROM LOCAL POLICE, CLERGY MEMBERS, DOCTORS, AND PROSECUTORS, TO NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL JUDGES, TO OFFICERS FROM SOME 70 DIFFERENT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE --- WE SENSITIZE AND TRAIN THOUSANDS OF DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS ABOUT CRIME VICTIMS.

WE ALSO HAVE FUNDED A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM WHICH HELPED THE RESIDENTS OF A CHICAGO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AFTER A GANG WAR THAT KILLED 13 PEOPLE IN ONE WEEKEND. OUR NATIONAL VICTIMS RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THOUSANDS OF CALLERS EACH YEAR VIA AN "800" NUMBER. WE HAVE FUNDED FILMS FOR CHILDREN WHICH EDUCATE YOUNG WITNESSES ABOUT COURT PROCEEDINGS AND REDUCE THEIR TRAUMA. AND, WE WORKED WITH THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM TO DEVELOP AN ENTIRE TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT PROMOTES A PROMPT AND THOROUGH RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS OF SUSPECTED ELDERLY ABUSE.

AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, OVC HOPES TO DEVELOP WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES A NEW NATIONAL AGENDA FOR CRIME VICTIMS --- BUILDING UPON WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST DECADE. WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND VICTIMS' RIGHTS, WHILE RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENDANTS' RIGHTS. WE WANT PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN THE HOME, WHERE THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE SO OFTEN BEGINS. WE WANT THE TEAM APPROACH --- WHERE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL WORKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PROSECUTORS WORK TOGETHER --- THE APPROACH SO SUCCESSFUL IN HANDLING THE CASES OF CHILD VICTIMS TO BE UTILIZED ON BEHALF OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME VICTIMS, INCLUDING OLDER AMERICANS.

EVERY DAY AT OVC, WE RESPOND TO LETTERS WHICH REMIND US OF THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS. RECENTLY, A 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WROTE US ABOUT BEING BRUTALLY ASSAULTED AND RAPED IN HER OWN HOME. HER ASSAILANT WAS RELEASED ON $4,000 BAIL ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED TO LEAVE HER HOME, KNOWING SHE WAS THE ONLY WITNESS AGAINST HIM. SHE JOINED THE GROWING RANKS OF OLDER AMERICANS, ABOUT HALF OF WHOM ARE AFRAID TO WALK ALONE AT NIGHT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOMES. WE KNOW TOO THAT ELDERLY VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN YOUNGER VICTIMS TO SUFFER A SERIOUS INJURY DURING THEIR VICTIMIZATION AND MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE ASSAULTED NEAR THEIR HOMES.

THE SPECIAL IMPACT OF CRIMES AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS WAS FINALLY RECOGNIZED AND ADDRESSED IN THE NEW CRIME LAW THAT WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER.

THE CRIME LAW PROVIDES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY, LIKE THE TRIAD MODEL THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT THIS CONFERENCE. THESE PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE KEY TO THE PREVENTION OF CRIMES AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS.

THE CRIME LAW INCREASES PENALTIES FOR CRIMINALS WHO PREY UPON OLDER AMERICANS THROUGH TELEMARKETING FRAUD AND OTHER MARKETING SCAMS AND PROVIDES MANDATORY RESTITUTION TO THE ELDERLY VICTIMS OF SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

THE CRIME LAW ORDERS THE SENTENCING COMMISSION TO EXAMINE ITS SENTENCING GUIDELINES IN THESE TYPES OF CASES AND ADJUST THEM WHERE ELDERLY VICTIMS ARE CONCERNED, IF APPROPRIATE.

THE CRIME LAW GIVES ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION OF THESE TYPES OF ECONOMIC CRIMES AGAINST OLDER AMERICANS. IT SETS UP A NATIONAL TOLL FREE HOTLINE TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON TELEMARKETING FRAUD.

THE CRIME LAW ALSO HELPS TO IMPROVE THE CARE OF OLDER AMERICANS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS TO HELP DETERMINE IF CARE PROVIDERS HAVE COMMITTED PAST SERIOUS CRIMES.

THESE PROVISIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OLDER AMERICANS, SOME OF WHOM WERE CRIME VICTIMS, EFFECTIVELY LOBBIED CONGRESS. IN EVERY COMMUNITY, IN EVERY STATE, OUR NATION'S VICTIMS OF CRIME HAVE BECOME OUR COUNTRY'S MOST EFFECTIVE VOICES AGAINST CRIME --- FROM THE MOTHERS WHO FOUNDED MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING AND TAUGHT US THAT A LOADED DRIVER CAN BE JUST AS DEADLY AS A LOADED GUN; TO THE PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN WHO CONVINCED CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN AND THE CAMPUS SECURITY ACT. FOR OVC, THESE AND COUNTLESS OTHER CRIME VICTIMS ARE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR INSPIRATION. THEY ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

1994 IS A LANDMARK YEAR --- A TURNING POINT --- FOR CRIME VICTIMS. WE PASSED THE MOST EXTENSIVE CRIME BILL IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION, WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRIMES --- THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO FOR VICTIMS. THE CRIME LAW ALSO INCREASED PENALTIES FOR REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS, AND WITHIN SIX YEARS WE WILL HAVE 100,000 MORE COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. SEVERAL THOUSAND OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE BEEN HIRED.

OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOINED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, IS LEADING THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ATTACK EVER LAUNCHED AGAINST CRIME --- A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH CALLS UPON PROFESSIONALS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO COME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO RESTORE SAFETY TO OUR STREETS, TO OUR HOMES, AND TO OUR SCHOOLS.

I'D LIKE TO CLOSE WITH A STORY THAT THE GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS WORKER FANNY LOU HAMER USED TO TELL ABOUT THE WISE OLD WOMAN AND THE TWO LITTLE BOYS WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY CLEVER. THEY DECIDED TO FOOL THE OLD WOMAN BY CATCHING A SMALL BIRD AND CUPPING IT IN ONE BOY'S HAND. THEY WOULD THEN BRING IT TO THE OLD WOMAN AND SAY: "OLD WOMAN, WE HAVE A BIRD IN OUR HANDS. IS IT ALIVE OR DEAD?" THEIR PLAN WAS THAT IF SHE SAID THE BIRD WAS DEAD, THEY WOULD RELEASE IT AND LET IT FLY AWAY. IF SHE SAID IT WAS ALIVE, THEY WOULD CRUSH IT AND SHOW HER THE DEAD BIRD. BUT WHEN THE BOYS BROUGHT THE BIRD TO THE OLD WOMAN AND ASKED HER THEIR QUESTION, SHE ANSWERED, "IT'S IN YOUR HANDS."

THIS STORY ILLUSTRATES TWO POINTS: THE WISDOM OF THE ELDERLY AND THE FACT THAT THIS NATION'S CRIME PROBLEM IS IN ALL OF OUR HANDS --- YOURS AS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND OURS IN WASHINGTON WHO WILL TRY IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT YOUR VALIANT EFFORTS.