Victims of Economic Crime and Elderly & At-Risk Adults

To understand how to work with victims of economic crime and elderly and at-risk victims, you must understand the five phases of prosecution.

1. Education and crime
   Directed by Consumer Services and the victim advocate for the elderly victims. Every attempt is made to reach as many people as possible in all of the communities, businesses and consumers, with literature and seminars on crime prevention and detection. Seniors are targeted in these presentations. Our motto is "prevention is always preferable to prosecution."
2. Intake
   We handle approximately 13,000 complaints a year. Intake staff consists of two individuals who are trained to either take a criminal complaint or help the person find a more appropriate agency or avenue for help.
   
   SWAT TEAM -- When information is received of an ongoing crime against an at-risk person, the intake staff immediately involves an investigator. The investigator attempts to contact the victim immediately and, if possible, to stop the victimization or arrest the perpetrator. In one case this approached saved an elderly woman almost $2 million.


3. Investigation
   The Economic Crime Unit has 9 full time investigators and one legal assistant. Investigators receive the majority of their cases through the intake staff. They conduct interviews, obtain documents and analyze the situation. They are in contact with the victims constantly. The victims understand that the investigator will carry their case to conclusion. This is distinguishable from most police departments where complaints are received by a line officer, then are referred to a detective who, in turn, has limited time to file or decline a case. The Economic Crime Unit is similar to "one stop shopping" with the luxury of time to gather additional information and complete a case.
   
4. Prosecution
   When a case is assigned for investigation, a prosecutor is assigned as well. There are four prosecutors assigned to the unit. At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator takes the case to the assigned prosecutor. If the prosecutor takes the case, it is his or her responsibility to see the case through to a conclusion. Prosecutors, therefore, have an ownership interest in the decision to prosecute. The prosecutor must be able to explain to the victim why decisions are made in the case. If the case involves a crime against an at-risk adult, a victim advocate provides information and services to the victim. A victim advocate may also be assigned in other cases.


5. Post-sentencing
   Since most defendants prosecuted by the Economic Crime Unit receive probation with large orders of restitution, this unit continues to track restitution post-sentence. A spreadsheet is maintained of all active probationers. Prosecutors file revocations if the defendant quits paying. The case is not considered closed and rather is incomplete until the victim receives every penny of restitution due them. This is known as the "pay or prison" accountability system, and it has proven to be effective.

The net result is a community prosecution or vertical prosecution model. Those in the Economic Crime Unit consider themselves protectors of victims, particularly at-risk adults, consumers and small businesses. Generally, the cases are the Unit's responsibility from beginning until the defendant serves his or her last day in prison or pays all restitution. Of course, each case is different, and not all losses are completely recovered.