Agencies clash over elder-abuse handling

Sunday, February 26th, 2006.

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa attorney general’s office has accused the director of a major state agency of engaging in vindictive, unethical and illegal behavior in the investigation of crimes against the elderly.

The attorney general’s office — which typically defends state agencies sued for misconduct — is openly accusing the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and its director of suppressing evidence and violating defendants’ constitutional rights in elder-abuse cases.

The unprecedented allegations could change the way the state attempts to protect seniors from abuse. Elder-abuse complaints in Iowa care facilities reached an all-time high last year — 1,648 — a 78 percent increase from 2003. The inspections department has been successful in referring more cases to prosecutors, but their tactics could jeopardize that success.

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