These Crimes Must Be Exposed - Maine Cracks Down On Elder Abuse

AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) - According to Maine's Attorney General, more than 8 out of 10 cases of elder abuse went unreported last year. Maine's Criminal Justice System is trying to reduce those numbers.

Starting this week, criminal justice employees are being trained to recognize and respond to signs of abuse against the elderly.The state received a $450,000 dollar federal grant from the US Justice Department's Office of Violence Against Women.

With the money they'll form the 'Elderly Justice Training Program'.Attorney General Steven Rowe says each year an estimated 14,000 Maine Seniors are abused and most of those cases go unreported, because the people around the abused miss the tell tale signs."We cannot allow elder abuse to remain hidden." Rowe said. "It's been hidden for too long. These crimes must be exposed.

Our criminal justice system can and must provide justice for elder victims"More than 250 criminal justice employees will be trained this week. The program is being sponsored by the Attorney General's office, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Elder Services and the Department of Public Safety.