New Program to Assist Victims of Elder Abuse

Drew Jenkins

The Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk's Office recently announced that it will be taking bold new steps to help prevent the abuse of the elderly and the mentally fragile citizens in the community. Under the new program, the Clerk's office has teamed up with Elder Serve, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and Family Court Judges to provide a program that will allow victims of elder abuse to take out an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) without ever leaving their home or hospital.

"All of the agencies involved have put together their resources to start a program that will save lives and protect our most vulnerable citizens," says Tony Miller, Circuit Court Clerk.

Seniors who feel they are being abused will either call Elder Serve, Adult Protective Services, or the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk's Office to report a problem. The deputy clerk in Family Court will collect information and locate a family court judge to discuss the request and receive a transport order for the sheriff to take the clerk to an off-site location. At that time, the clerk will arrange for the same judge to be "on call" to hear and rule on the petition via telephone. 

The clerk will fax a transport order to sheriff's office. The Deputy Sheriff will transport the clerk and the Elder Serve advocate to the petitioner's location. If the respondent is present, the sheriff will call for back up. The clerk will then take the petition and contact the "on call" judge from on-site location. The clerk will use that judge's signature stamp and provide the petitioner with a signed copy of the EPO or summons. If there is a vacate order and the respondent lives with the petitioner, the sheriff will execute the vacate order. If the respondent is the caregiver, Elder Serve will arrange for someone to care for the petitioner. Both the petitioner and the respondent will receive a copy of the motion from the telephonic EPO hearing at that time.