Vernelle Nelson-Sessoms

(904) 255-6573 x 311

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - January 4, 2001: Central Florida Legal Services, Inc. (CFLS) has embarked on a new initiative aimed at identifying the hidden victims of elder abuse throughout the Seventh Judicial Circuit. (Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam Counties). According to the 1999 Florida Statistical Abstract, the number of people 65 years and above in the targeted region was 140,604.

CFLS has appointed Jonathan Roe, Elder Abuse Advocate, to spearhead its new endeavor. Prior to joining the CFLS staff, Roe worked as Elder Affairs Advocate for the Port Orange Police Department and as Victim Advocate Coordinator for the South Daytona Police Department. He states, "Our primary goals are to identify the hidden victims of elder abuse, but to close the gap between the total number of elder abuse cases reported and the number of cases prosecuted by working with police departments and other organizations that serve senior citizens in all four counties. He adds, "Another goal is to provide an accessible means for victims of elder abuse to recover civil remedy in cases that are not prosecuted."

In 1998, only 10% of the 101 elder abuse cases reported in Volusia County were prosecuted. An article in the Daytona Beach News Journal reported, "Statewide, from 1995 through 1998, more people were prosecuted for animal abuse than for physically and sexually abusing the elderly."

Elder abuse comes in many forms – including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, financial misrepresentation and consumer fraud. For additional information on elder abuse or to report suspected elder abuse in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, contact Jonathan Roe at CFLS – 904/255-6573.