Specialized Unit for Elder Abuse to operate in prosecutor’s offices

Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres, right, said cases handled by the Specialized Unit for Elder Abuse cannot be dismissed due to lack of interest on the part of the victim and will require the presence of a prosecutor at all procedural stages. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Wednesday the creation of the Specialized Unit for Elder Abuse, a structure that will operate in all 13 prosecutor’s offices to address crimes against individuals 60 years of age and older.

“We are committed to transforming the government into one that understands and addresses the needs of senior citizens. This includes legal protection and ensuring their rights,” González Colón during a press conference. “The creation of this unit is part of that transformation, where our public policy is zero tolerance for abuse against this population.”

Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres said the unit will strengthen the prevention, care and response to elder abuse cases through standardized processes under Administrative Order 2025-11. The unit has been operating since Oct. 20 and is led by Prosecutor Vanessa Birriel Figueroa, with 26 assigned prosecutors. Cases cannot be dismissed due to lack of interest on the part of the victim and will require the presence of a prosecutor at all procedural stages.

Gómez Torres noted that all complaints related to senior citizens must be addressed within the first 24 hours of being filed. Each case will activate the Office of Compensation and Services for Victims and Witnesses of Crime to offer crisis intervention, counseling, legal guidance, accompaniment, security services, and relocation when necessary.

The assigned prosecutors have recently received training on issues related to handling cases involving older adults, including ageism, justice, and civil and criminal aspects, aimed at optimizing their role and serving that population with sensitivity.

The governor pointed out that by 2023 there were more than a billion people aged 60 and over in the world, equivalent to 14% of the global population. She added that Puerto Rico ranked fourth with 31.05%, and that projections indicate increases reaching 43.7% by 2060.