California Update with Linda Kincaid of CEDAR, Legislation, Research, and Media

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Our guest is Linda Kincaid of the Coalition for Elder & Disability Rights (CEDAR).

1. Groundbreaking legislation in California,

2. Research from UCLA School of Law, and

3. Media coverage of predatory conservatorship (guardianship) in California.

Part 1: California Senate Bill 1191 Mandates Improved Law Enforcement Policies

On September 18, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1911. For the first time in any state, law enforcement elder abuse policies will be required to inform officers that elder abuse is a crime, not a civil matter. Senator Hueso’s fact sheet on SB 1191 explained:

Senate Bill 1191 mandates that all law enforcement jurisdictions in the State of California have policies and training manuals that contain and include reference to existing elder and dependent adult abuse laws. This would allow officers to properly identify instances of elder and dependent adult abuse crimes. This issue arises as a result of the frequent outsourcing of the task of writing officer training manuals to private organizations such as Lexipol, who are contracted by law enforcement to draft training policies and manuals. (Emphasis added)

Part 2: Lexipol The Privatization of Police Policymaking UCLA School of Law - Article by Ingrid V. Eagly and Joanna C. Schwartz

UCLA School of Law found that Lexipol law enforcement policies focus on protecting police departments from law suits, rather than instructing officers to protect the public. The authors stated:

 However, reliance on this private entity to establish standards for public policing also raises several concerns arising from its for-profit business model, focus on liability risk management, and lack of transparency or democratic participation. (Emphasis added)

Part 3: Money-draining probate system ‘like a plague on our senior citizens’