Elder Sexual Abuse Law Enforcement Training Curriculum

Elder victims of sexual assault are often "hidden" in our society. The sexual assault of older individuals often goes undetected and most often comes to light when another crime is being investigated.

Although there has been very little research done on this topic, the information that exists indicates that nationally at least 18 percent of women who are raped each year are aged 60 or older. As with many studies regarding rape, this is probably a very conservative estimate, particularly considering another study that estimates only 30 percent of elder victims report the crime. This is especially relevant in Florida where the largest proportion of people 65 years and older reside compared to anywhere else in the United States.

In response to this problem, the Violence Against Women Office of the U.S. Department of Justice awarded FCASV a grant to develop training for law enforcement officers on elder sexual assault. FCASV developed a daylong training curriculum and successfully piloted it in the Tampa and Lake City areas. These pilot projects were marketed and coordinated by project partners APPLE services of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the North Central Florida Sexual Assault Center in Lake City.

Please see the "The Hidden Victim" publication for further information.