NO Equal Justice for Victims of Elder Financial Abuse June 4, 2025

The Grand Jury finds APS internal reporting systems do not require consistent data entry, therefore APS cannot reliably quantify the number of cases referred to law enforcement, nor can it track the law enforcement agencies to which the referrals are sent or follow-up on the resolution of cases. (R1)

The Grand Jury finds APS lacks enough funding for additional experienced, qualified social workers to investigate the growing number of elder financial abuse cases, which may result in future cases not being adequately investigated and documented. (R2)

The Grand Jury finds some local law enforcement agencies do not consistently collect data to track elder financial abuse cases received from APS, making it impossible to determine if these cases are fully investigated or referred to the DA for prosecution. (R3)

The Grand Jury finds the DA’s Elder Abuse Unit does not prosecute financial abuse cases unless accompanied by physical abuse, allowing many abusers to avoid consequences. (R4)

The Grand Jury finds the DA’s Financial Crimes & Real Estate Fraud Units prosecute only when the dollar amount is high or multiple victims are impacted, allowing many abusers to avoid consequences. (R5)

The Grand Jury finds law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County are not placing as much priority on elder financial abuse as other types of elder abuse, allowing abusers to avoid consequences. (R6)

The Grand Jury finds the DA’s elder abuse unit does not have a prosecutor and investigator who are trained and specialize in prosecuting elder financial abuse, so many financial abuse cases are not being prosecuted allowing abusers to avoid consequences. (R7)

The Grand Jury finds several of the law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County lack dedicated detectives with specialized training in the investigation of elder financial abuse and as a result many abusers are not being held accountable. (R8)

The Grand Jury finds local uniformed law enforcement officers do not receive continuing education and training in how to recognize the signs of elder financial abuse, thereby allowing abusers to continue their victimization without consequences. (R9) F.10 The Grand Jury finds The DA’s office no longer has a dedicated victim advocate who specializes in working with elderly victims of either physical or financial abuse, thereby leaving victims without proper support. (R10)

The Grand Jury finds The DA’s office no longer has a dedicated victim advocate who specializes in working with elderly victims of either physical or financial abuse, thereby leaving victims without proper support. (R10) F11. The Grand Jury finds the DA lacks enough funding to create and fill elder financial abuse prosecutor, investigator and victim advocate positions, to be able to prosecute more cases of elder financial abuse. (R11) F12. The Grand Jury finds Sacramento County has no active Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), therefore there is inadequate coordination between agencies to combat the growing problem of elder financial abuse and protect elderly victims. (R12) F 13. The Grand Jury finds that there is insufficient community outreach by agencies within Sacramento County to educate elder citizens and their families and caregivers about financial abuse, so the signs of abuse may not be recognized. (R13) RECOMMENDATIONS R1. The Grand Jury recommends that APS adopt and implement a reliable procedure to collect data regarding cases of elder abuse it refers to law enforcement agencies, by December 31, 2025. (F1) R2. The Grand Jury recommends that APS seek funding from the Board of Supervisors or other sources to hire additional MSW level social workers to investigate elder financial abuse cases, with funding to begin no later than the 2026/2027 fiscal year. (F2) R3. The Grand Jury recommends that all local law enforcement agencies maintain a record of elder financial abuse cases referred by APS, including whether the law enforcement agency conducted additional investigation and whether it sent the case to the DA for potential prosecution, to begin by December 31, 2025. (F3) R4. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA prosecute the crime of elder financial abuse regardless of whether it is combined with physical abuse, to begin September 30, 2025. (F4) R5. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA begin to consider the full impact of financial abuse on the elderly victims, regardless of the dollar amount lost, in deciding whether to charge a financial abuse crime, no later than September 30, 2025. (F5) R6. The Grand Jury recommends that all law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County raise the priority of elder financial abuse investigations to that of physical abuse, to begin September 30, 2025. (F6) R7. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA add both an attorney and investigator specializing in elder abuse to prosecute financial abuse, by September 30, 2025. (F7) R8. The Grand Jury recommends that each law enforcement agency in Sacramento County have at least one trained detective dedicated to investigating elder financial abuse crimes, by December 31, 2025. (F8) R9. The Grand Jury recommends that the uniformed officers of each local law enforcement agency receive regular ongoing education and training to recognize signs of elder financial abuse, to begin by December 31, 2025. (F9) R10. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA add a dedicated victim advocate to the elder abuse unit who has specialized training and experience in working with elderly victims, by September 30, 2025. (F10) R11. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA seek the funding needed to create and fill the elder financial abuse prosecutor, investigator and victim advocate positions from the Board of Supervisors or other funding sources such as grants, with funding to begin no later than the 2026/2027 fiscal year. (F11) R12. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA reactivate the FAST team, by September 30, 2025. (F12) R13. The Grand Jury recommends that law enforcement agencies, APS, the DA’s office, and the FAST team develop and implement a coordinated plan for more widespread community outreach by all parties, by December 31, 2025. (F13) REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933(a) and (c) and 933.05, the grand jury requests responses as follows. From the following “agency head” as specified in Penal Code section 933(c) within 60 days, for all Findings and Recommendations: ▪ Thien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney 901 G Street Sacramento, California 95814 (F4, F5, F7, F10, F11, F12, F13, R4, R5, R7, R10, R11, R12, R13) ▪ Jim Cooper, Sacramento County Sheriff 4500 Orange Grove Avenue Sacramento, California 95841 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F12, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) ▪ Shelby Boston, Director Sacramento County Department of Child Family and Adult Services 9750 Business Park Drive Sacramento, California 95827 (F1, F2, F13, R1, R2, R13) Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the grand jury requests a response from the following “governing body” as specified in Penal Code section 933(c) within 90 days, for all Findings and Recommendations: ▪ Sacramento County Board of Supervisors 700 H Street, Suite 2450 Sacramento, California 95814 (F1, F2, F11, R1, R2, R11) ▪ Sacramento City Council 915 I Street, 5th Floor Sacramento, California 95814 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Elk Grove City Council 8401 Laguna Palms Way, Elk Grove, CA 95758 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Folsom City Council 50 Natoma Street Folsom, CA 95630 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Citrus Heights City Council 6360 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) INVITED RESPONSES Kathy Lester, Chief of Police Sacramento Police Department 5770 Freeport Blvd, Suite 200 Sacramento California 95822 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Alexander Turcotte, Chief of Police Citrus Heights Police Department 6360 Fountain Square Drive Citrus Heights, California 95621 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Rick Hillman, Chief of Police Folsom Police Department 46 Natomas Street Folsom, California 95630 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Bobby Davis, Chief of Police Elk Grove Police Department 8400 Laguna Palms Way Elk Grove, California 95758 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Melissa Brown, Clinical Professor of Law Elder & Health Law Clinic University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law 3200 Fifth Avenue Sacramento, California 95817 (F4-F13, R4-R13) 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.

The Grand Jury finds the DA lacks enough funding to create and fill elder financial abuse prosecutor, investigator and victim advocate positions, to be able to prosecute more cases of elder financial abuse. (R11)

The Grand Jury finds Sacramento County has no active Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), therefore there is inadequate coordination between agencies to combat the growing problem of elder financial abuse and protect elderly victims. (R12) F 13. The Grand Jury finds that there is insufficient community outreach by agencies within Sacramento County to educate elder citizens and their families and caregivers about financial abuse, so the signs of abuse may not be recognized. (R13)

The Grand Jury finds that there is insufficient community outreach by agencies within Sacramento County to educate elder citizens and their families and caregivers about financial abuse, so the signs of abuse may not be recognized. (R13) RECOMMENDATIONS R1. The Grand Jury recommends that APS adopt and implement a reliable procedure to collect data regarding cases of elder abuse it refers to law enforcement agencies, by December 31, 2025. (F1) R2. The Grand Jury recommends that APS seek funding from the Board of Supervisors or other sources to hire additional MSW level social workers to investigate elder financial abuse cases, with funding to begin no later than the 2026/2027 fiscal year. (F2) R3. The Grand Jury recommends that all local law enforcement agencies maintain a record of elder financial abuse cases referred by APS, including whether the law enforcement agency conducted additional investigation and whether it sent the case to the DA for potential prosecution, to begin by December 31, 2025. (F3) R4. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA prosecute the crime of elder financial abuse regardless of whether it is combined with physical abuse, to begin September 30, 2025. (F4) R5. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA begin to consider the full impact of financial abuse on the elderly victims, regardless of the dollar amount lost, in deciding whether to charge a financial abuse crime, no later than September 30, 2025. (F5) R6. The Grand Jury recommends that all law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County raise the priority of elder financial abuse investigations to that of physical abuse, to begin September 30, 2025. (F6) R7. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA add both an attorney and investigator specializing in elder abuse to prosecute financial abuse, by September 30, 2025. (F7) R8. The Grand Jury recommends that each law enforcement agency in Sacramento County have at least one trained detective dedicated to investigating elder financial abuse crimes, by December 31, 2025. (F8) R9. The Grand Jury recommends that the uniformed officers of each local law enforcement agency receive regular ongoing education and training to recognize signs of elder financial abuse, to begin by December 31, 2025. (F9) R10. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA add a dedicated victim advocate to the elder abuse unit who has specialized training and experience in working with elderly victims, by September 30, 2025. (F10) R11. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA seek the funding needed to create and fill the elder financial abuse prosecutor, investigator and victim advocate positions from the Board of Supervisors or other funding sources such as grants, with funding to begin no later than the 2026/2027 fiscal year. (F11) R12. The Grand Jury recommends that the DA reactivate the FAST team, by September 30, 2025. (F12) R13. The Grand Jury recommends that law enforcement agencies, APS, the DA’s office, and the FAST team develop and implement a coordinated plan for more widespread community outreach by all parties, by December 31, 2025. (F13) REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933(a) and (c) and 933.05, the grand jury requests responses as follows. From the following “agency head” as specified in Penal Code section 933(c) within 60 days, for all Findings and Recommendations: ▪ Thien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney 901 G Street Sacramento, California 95814 (F4, F5, F7, F10, F11, F12, F13, R4, R5, R7, R10, R11, R12, R13) ▪ Jim Cooper, Sacramento County Sheriff 4500 Orange Grove Avenue Sacramento, California 95841 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F12, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) ▪ Shelby Boston, Director Sacramento County Department of Child Family and Adult Services 9750 Business Park Drive Sacramento, California 95827 (F1, F2, F13, R1, R2, R13) Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the grand jury requests a response from the following “governing body” as specified in Penal Code section 933(c) within 90 days, for all Findings and Recommendations: ▪ Sacramento County Board of Supervisors 700 H Street, Suite 2450 Sacramento, California 95814 (F1, F2, F11, R1, R2, R11) ▪ Sacramento City Council 915 I Street, 5th Floor Sacramento, California 95814 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Elk Grove City Council 8401 Laguna Palms Way, Elk Grove, CA 95758 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Folsom City Council 50 Natoma Street Folsom, CA 95630 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) ▪ Citrus Heights City Council 6360 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R9, R13) INVITED RESPONSES Kathy Lester, Chief of Police Sacramento Police Department 5770 Freeport Blvd, Suite 200 Sacramento California 95822 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Alexander Turcotte, Chief of Police Citrus Heights Police Department 6360 Fountain Square Drive Citrus Heights, California 95621 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Rick Hillman, Chief of Police Folsom Police Department 46 Natomas Street Folsom, California 95630 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Bobby Davis, Chief of Police Elk Grove Police Department 8400 Laguna Palms Way Elk Grove, California 95758 (F3, F6, F8, F9, F13, R3, R6, R8, R9, R13) Melissa Brown, Clinical Professor of Law Elder & Health Law Clinic University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law 3200 Fifth Avenue Sacramento, California 95817 (F4-F13, R4-R13) 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.