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CHARLES J.
HYNES, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Arlene
M. Markarian, Bureau Chief
(718)
250-3309
Peg
Horan, Elder Abuse Unit Coordinator
(718)
250-3040
In 1999, the Brooklyn District Attorney,
CHARLES J. HYNES, created the Elder
Abuse Unit in response to the growing number
of elder abuse cases in this county. The
Elder Abuse Unit of the Domestic Violence
Bureau handles all cases of spousal/intimate
partner abuse and parental abuse [including
parents, grandparents, great grandparents,
etc] involving victims age 60
years or older.
The Elder Abuse Unit handles
cases of physical abuse.
Physical abuse includes not only assaults,
but also threats of violence.
Neglect is another form of
abuse handled by the Unit.
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The Chief of the Elder Abuse
Unit, Arlene Markarian,
reviews all of the elder
abuse cases sent to the Unit
and supervises the Assistant
District Attorneys who are
assigned to them. Peg Horan
acts as a liaison between
the Assistant District
Attorneys and various senior
service agencies/providers,
as well being involved in
victim outreach. Arlene
Markarian and Peg Horan
regularly answer questions
regarding elder abuse from
the NYPD, hospitals, senior
service providers/agencies,
and from senior citizens
throughout the county.
Referrals to the police or
senior service providers are
made in response to many of
these inquiries.
Since the creation of the
Elder Abuse Unit, Arlene Markarian and Peg Horan have
developed an excellent
working relationship with
the
NYC Department for the
Aging [DFTA], the
Jewish Association for
Services for the Aged [JASA]
and Adult Protective
Services [APS].
These partnerships promote
early intervention in many
situations. As a result,
vulnerable senior citizens,
who otherwise may go
unnoticed, receive the
services and protection they
need. |
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Furthermore, the Kings
County District Attorney’s
Office is the lead agency
partnered with the City of
New York at the Brooklyn
Family Justice Center [FJC],
which is located on the same
floor as the Domestic
Violence Bureau. The FJC
provides on-the-spot
services for victims of
abuse. In fact, the FJC has
a special Elder Abuse Family
Court Order of Protection
Project where social workers
help older victims obtain
Orders of Protection without
standing around the
courthouse all day. Other
partners include both DFTA
and JASA, as well as many
other social service
agencies who assist victims
of domestic violence and
elder abuse.
In addition, Ms. Markarian and Ms. Horan
routinely present elder
abuse workshops for senior
centers and other senior
organizations in Brooklyn.
Arlene Markarian conducts
ongoing training for various
senior service
providers/agencies, as well
as the NYPD, APS, DFTA, JASA,
local hospitals and
Assistant District Attorneys
throughout the state. The
training focuses on the
detection, investigation and
prosecution of elder abuse.
Feel free to call the Elder
Abuse Unit if you are
interested in such training. |
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