Exploitation of Elders (S 670)

In opposing this legislation which would have lowered the age which would define an “elder” from 65 to 60 years old for the purposes of the criminal offense of “exploiting an elder,” we noted the extremely harsh penalties in the statute, which authorize a five year prison sentence for “exploiting” an “elder” person by stealing as little as $5. We emphasized that the crime of “exploiting the elderly” carried no requirement of vulnerability or helplessness and lowering the age of protection only further ageist beliefs about the competence of older residents. This bill passed the Senate but died in the House.