2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 15:1237 — Creation of the aged and law enforcement response team

§1237.  Creation of the Aged and Law Enforcement Response Team

A.  The Aged and Law Enforcement Response Team Program hereinafter known as "ALERT" is hereby established within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. ALERT shall augment the state and local Triad Program, as provided in R.S. 15:1236, by creating a supportive implementation and training program.

B.  ALERT shall accomplish the following objectives:

(1)  Creation of a statewide network of law enforcement officers hereinafter known as "Elderly Services Officers" with specialized training in working with elderly citizens and the crime problems specific to the elderly.

(2)  Creation of a statewide network of assistant district attorneys with specialized training in working with elderly victims, witnesses and defendants and criminal justice issues specific to the elderly.

(3)  Uniformity in the delivery of high quality law enforcement services to the state's elderly citizens through training and certification.

(4)  Accountability and accessibility of services through parish level boards composed of law enforcement officials and seniors, thus making the program more responsive to the local needs of elders.

C.(1)  The Aged and Law Enforcement Response Team Board hereinafter known as the "board" shall be comprised of the committee as provided for in R.S. 15:1231 et seq.

(2)  The board shall retain all of the duties and responsibilities of the committee and will additionally exercise the following:

(a)  Oversight and monitoring of the Elderly Services Officers program.

(b)  Review all grants under the program, from either state or federal sources, and make recommendations relative to funding, program structure or special conditions to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice.

(c)  Assist the Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training Council hereinafter known as "POST", relative to the design of the training program and the certification of Elderly Services Officers.

(d)  Provide a comprehensive clearinghouse for materials relative to the elderly services which will be made available to the Elderly Services Officers statewide.

(e)  Receive information from Elderly Services Officers in each parish relative to the law enforcement and service needs of elderly citizens in their parishes.

(f)  Prepare an annual report to the governor and the legislature relative to emerging crime problems as they effect the elderly.

D.(1)  The Aged and Law Enforcement Council hereinafter known as the "council" shall be established in each parish and shall be composed of the sheriff, district attorney, chiefs of police, seniors and representatives from the primary elderly services organization.  The chairman of the council shall be a criminal justice official with parish wide authority and selected by the council members.

(2)  The council shall be charged with the following duties and responsibilities:

(a)  Coordination of service delivery among the various agencies involved with the law enforcement related services for the elderly.

(b)  Monitoring local crime conditions and alerting the state board, local criminal justice agencies, and the seniors of emerging crime problems.

(c)  Monitoring the Elderly Service Officer program in the parish.

(d)  Cooperating with all agencies involved in the delivery of law enforcement services to the elderly to identify gaps in the service delivery system and seek ways to fill those needs.

(e)  Receive the annual report prepared by the Elderly Services Officer which sets forth the law enforcement service needs of the elderly citizens in the parish, the corresponding response of the Elderly Services Officer Program, and potential crime problems affecting the elderly.

E.(1)  ALERT may provide funding for one Elderly Services Officer in each parish during the first year of the program, subject to availability of funding and prioritization by the committee and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice.  The individual will be selected by the local agency receiving the grant, in accordance with the selection process outlined in the Elderly Services Officer training program.  The Elderly Services Officer shall be a POST certified peace officer, meeting all experience criteria established by the committee and shall complete POST certification as an Elderly Services Officer prior to assuming his duties. Funding for Elderly Services Officers under the ALERT program shall be contingent upon the individual officer receiving certification as an Elderly Services Officer. The program may fund the cost for one certified Elderly Services Officer per parish for the initial phase of the program operation and all costs associated with training subject to availability of funding and prioritization by the committee and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice.

(2)(a)  The Elderly Services Officers shall serve as the primary point of contact between the law enforcement community and the elderly.

(b)  The Elderly Services Officers duties shall include the following:

(i)  Establishment of educational programs in crime prevention, crime reporting, and referral for senior citizen groups in the community.

(ii)  Assistance to all law enforcement agencies in the parish with training and, when necessary, case services in matters pertaining to senior citizens.

(iii)  Serve as a referral agent for senior citizens with needs for which the citizen has been unable to determine the appropriate agency for assistance.

(iv)  Develop community awareness programs relative to fraud and scam operations, elder abuse, and other crime problems which primarily affect the elderly.

(v)  Identify crime trends which affect the elderly, as well as other needs of the elderly in the community, and make an annual report of such matters to the board and the council.

(vi)  Assist in cases involving elderly victims or witnesses which are under investigation or processed by the Elderly Services Officer's agency or other law enforcement agency in the parish when requested.

F.(1)  The district attorney in each judicial district shall designate an assistant district attorney to serve as the elderly services assistant district attorney.

(2)  ALERT may provide funding for one elderly services assistant district attorney in each judicial district beginning the second year of the program subject to funding availability and prioritization by the committee and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice.  Funding shall be contingent upon certification of the assistant district attorney.

G.(1)  The Elderly Services Officer training and certification program may be developed by POST with advice from the board.  ALERT shall fund the cost of developing and conducting the training.

(2)  The criteria and process for the screening of applicants shall be developed by POST in consultation with the board and a physician in the practice of geriatric medicine recommended by the Louisiana State University Medical School.  All persons nominated by local law enforcement agencies to receive the Elderly Services Officers training program shall be approved through the screening process before they may attend the training or receive certification.

H.(1)  Upon completion of the training program, all candidates for Elderly Services Officers shall be required to pass a certification examination developed by the POST council with advice from the board.

(2)  Each certified Elderly Services Officer shall be required to complete an annual training course.

Acts 1999, No. 841, §1, eff. July 2, 1999.