National Institute on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse (NIPEA)

The National Institute on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse (NIPEA) is a three-and-one-half-day course sponsored by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), and AEquitas. The Institute is designed to challenge prosecutors to reevaluate their approach to prosecuting elder abuse cases. Participants received training on the dynamics of elder abuse as well as practical skills to successfully prosecute these cases. NIPEA explores the complex issues faced by prosecutors — balancing offender accountability with the impact of criminal prosecution on victims. In addition to case evaluation and litigation skills, the curriculum examines the benefits of developing a coordinated, victim-centered community response; explains common injuries and relevant medical evidence, providing guidance on the use of medical experts; explores ethical issues confronted by prosecutors; addresses the development and improvement of culturally-specific victim services; and offers prosecutors the ability to redefine outcomes and the very nature of justice in elder abuse cases.