U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey and U.S. Attorney Moore Capito announced on Mar. 26 a partnership with Modell Consulting to provide a two-day training session aimed at strengthening the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative.
The training, called West Virginia SAFE (Safe and Accessible Forensic Interviewing with Elders), is being held at the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services facility in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The program focuses on improving forensic interviewing skills for professionals who work with older adults who may be victims of crime, especially considering factors such as cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, language abilities, and cultural backgrounds.
“Those who target older Americans for financial gain should be on notice: we will use every tool available to investigate and prosecute these crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey. “By investing in this training, we are standing up for our seniors and making clear that exploitation of the elderly will not be tolerated in our communities.”
U.S. Attorney Moore Capito said, “Elder abuse is a coward’s crime — preying on those least able to fight back. Here in West Virginia, our seniors are the best of the best. They should be able to retire knowing they are both physically and financially safe. That’s why this training matters — it sharpens our ability to spot it, stop it, and hold offenders accountable. We will not overlook it, we will not excuse it — we will prosecute it, every time.”
The event brings together law enforcement partners from across West Virginia along with federal and state prosecutors as well as social workers specializing in elder care populations. Participants can earn education credits relevant to their fields through organizations such as the West Virginia State Bar for legal professionals; the Division Law Enforcement Professional Standards Program (LEPS) for law enforcement; and Crittenton Services Inc., based in Wheeling, for social workers.
AARP is serving as a limited sponsor of this event.
For more information about the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative or details about future trainings or resources related to elder justice issues in West Virginia, interested parties can contact Elder Justice Coordinators Kimberley Crockett (Northern District) or Jonathan Storage (Southern District) at their respective United States Attorney’s Offices.
