Not many crimes against elders are committed within California, and the United States in general, generate such an emotional response as those against the elderly. Elderly people are very susceptible due to the fact that they might be confused, mentally incompetent, physically impaired or just generally unable to protect themselves.
Crimes against elders encompass several different statutes and can make the punishments for certain crimes far worse than they would’ve been had they been committed against, say a thirty-five year old citizen. Anyone charged with a crime against an elderly person will definitely need legal representation, because the State of California does not look kindly upon those who are so convicted.
Laws to Protect the Elderly
there are several crimes against elders that can land a person in jail, or even increase the charges for what some may see as minor crimes. California Penal Code 368 states that it is illegal to knowingly cause or put an elderly person in a situation, whether that situation is likely to produce great bodily harm or not, where the elder person would be subject to mental or physical suffering, unjustifiable pain, injury or danger in general. It also states that crimes such as theft, embezzlement and false imprisonment will be charged more severely if they are committed against an elderly person. This applies to the general public and caretakers equally.
Bail Amounts Can Vary
Each county in California is able to set their own bail amounts, so they can differ drastically. General crimes against elders, for example, will warrant a twenty-five thousand dollar bail amount on the bail schedules of San Diego and Santa Clara Counties – while the same crime in Los Angeles County will incur a fifty thousand dollar bail. Some counties apply more similar bail for these crimes; Santa Clara and San Diego Counties, for instance, have set bail amounts of ten thousand dollars to those who steal from the elderly. Because the preset bail amount varies depending on the charge and the county, it is best to contact your closest Bail Hotline if you find yourself bailing out a friend or loved one charged with these crimes.
Consequences and Penalties
Penalties for those convicted can change, once circumstances are considered, but the penalties are usually similar. Most of these crimes can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Any misdemeanor charge will only warrant a maximum of one year in jail and a fine.
A person that knowingly puts an elderly person in a dangerous situation that could likely cause great bodily harm, or who commits theft or embezzlement against them, faces 2-4 years in prison if the crime is charged as a felony. This will likely be in addition to the punishments involved with the actual crime itself. False imprisonment of an elderly person by use of menace, violence, deceit or fraud also brings a minimum of two years in prison, assuming no other charges are tacked on.
Crimes against elders are treated with the utmost importance by the California criminal justice system. Due to their general inability to protect themselves, crimes committed against them are treated more severely by the courts. Anyone charged with a crime against an elderly person will need competent legal representation if they hope to escape the harsh penalties related to these crimes. Though our legal system says you are considered innocent until proven guilty, without an attorney most people accused of crimes against the elderly will end up on the wrong end of the law.