§ 467. Statement as to knowledge of compliance with reporting requirements
(a) Any person who enters into employment on or after January 1, 2009, as a care custodian, clergy member, health practitioner, or with the Department Human Services or a local law enforcement agency, before commencing his employment and as a prerequisite to the employment, shall sign a statement on a form provided by the prospective […]
§ 469. Criminal abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult
(a) A person being a caregiver is guilty of felony criminal abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult person punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than three years, who and knowingly (1) performs an acts that causes an elder or dependent adults’ life to be […]
§ 470. Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult; bad faith
(a) Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult as set forth in section 452(m) of this chapter occurs when all of the following are present: (1) a person or entity; (2) takes, secretes, appropriates or retains property of an elder or dependent adult, or assists with the taking, secreting, appropriating or retention of property […]
§ 460. Designation of agency to investigate reports; inventory of service agencies to assist victims
(a) Investigations of reports of known or suspected instances of elder or dependent adult abuse are the responsibility of the Department of Human Services when the following are alleged: (i) emotional abuse; (ii) neglect; (iii) abandonment; (iv) isolation; (v) maltreatment; (vi) exploitation; (vii) deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services necessary to avoid […]
§ 461. Guidelines for determining whether investigation is warranted
(a) The Department of Human Services shall maintain minimum guidelines for use in determining when an investigation of abuse is warranted. (b) The Virgin Islands Police Department shall develop uniform guidelines for local law enforcement assistance with investigations of allegations of abuse to elders and dependent adults. Once developed, the guidelines must remain in effect […]
§ 462. Training programs
(a) The Department of Human Services shall offer training programs to local law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel in investigating crimes against elders and dependent adults. (b) The Department of Human Services shall offer training programs in evaluating and documenting instances of criminal abuse against elders and dependent adults to: (1) the Department of Health; (2) […]
§ 455. Evidentiary privileges
Nothing in this chapter may be construed as requiring an attorney to violate the attorney’s oath and duties.
§ 456. Disclosure; penalties
(a) The reports required by this chapter are confidential and may be disclosed only as provided in this section. Any violation of the confidentiality required by this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 or not less than six month’s imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment. (b) Reports of suspected elder […]
§ 457. Identity of person reporting; confidentiality
(a) The identity of any person who reports under this chapter is confidential and may be disclosed only among the following agencies or persons representing the agency: (1) The Department Human Services; (2) A licensing agency; (3) A local law enforcement agency; (4) The office of the Attorney General; (5) Department of Health; (6) The […]
§ 458. Immunity from liability of persons authorized to report abuse; attorney costs
(a) A care custodian, clergy member, health practitioner, or employee of the Department of Human Services or a local law enforcement agency is not civilly or criminally liable for any report required or authorized by this chapter. (b) Any other person reporting a known or suspected instance of elder or dependent adult abuse does not […]