Kern County Grand Jury • 2020-2021

Health, Education and Social Services Committee Gary Chaffin Earlene Hightower DonnaNewman Latricia McConnell

Published: September 24, 2020 24 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 5 findings

F1
APS provides an admirable service to the senior and dependent residents of Kern County in terms of disseminating information. AASD has a public website which offers excellent information to those who are computer literate. 89
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
, Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department should assign Adult Protective Services workers to Senior Centers on a rotational basis to each of its districts, one or two days per month, to talk to concerned community members. (Finding 1)
F2
According to financial abuse referrals, the elderly in areas outside of the City of Bakersfield may be underserved by APS. It is inconceivable that of the 1,314 reported cases of elder financial abuse, 1,001 came from the City of Bakersfield, while only 313 came from the rest of Kern County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department should develop a network consortium of agencies, businesses, and concerned citizens within each Adult Protective Services district (See
F3
Most elderly who are victimized are reluctant to report that they have been scammed. According to a report published by the American Bankers Association, only one in 44 elder financial abuse cases are reported.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
There are many agencies working to prevent elder financial abuse; however, these efforts are not consistent outside of Bakersfield.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department should seek grants to provide funding for a pilot neighborhood/district consortium concerned with reducing and/or preventing elder financial abuse. (Finding 4)
R5
The Sheriff should immediately provide better building security and also security for staff as they enter or exit the building. In the event of high-profile decedents, extra security personnel should be available. Monitored security cameras may be an option. (Finding 4)
F5
The Grand Jury was unable to determine the status of the referrals confirmed by APS to be elder financial abuse in 2019. This information is not available from the District Attorney, and it hinders an accurate accounting of elder financial abuse. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank the staff of the AASD and the DA offices for their cooperation, candor and responsiveness. The staff interacting with the Grand Jury appeared to be genuinely dedicated, caring and concerned about elder abuse.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department should work with the District Attorney to develop procedures to track all elder abuse referrals through criminal prosecution. (Finding 5) 90 NOTES:  Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review  Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: kerncounty.com/grandjury  Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: kerncounty.com/grandjury REQUIRED RESPONSES WITHIN 90 DAYS TO:  PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301  TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury.
R6
The Sheriff should make the security of the files and property stored in the warehouse a priority. Digitizing the files may be an option. The Sheriff should seek a grant in order to provide funding for this project. (Finding 5) 98 NOTES: • The Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the BOS should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: kerncounty.com/grandjury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: kerncounty.com/grandjury REQUIRED RESPONSES WITHIN 60 DAYS TO:  PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301  TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury.

Comments 3

No Responses Found 1

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Kern County County