Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Most Adult Protection Working Agreements Signed, But Have Had Limited Effectiveness

Report 04-73, October 2004




Report Summary

  • The Adult Protective Services Program investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation and provides social services to protect vulnerable adults from harm. The program also coordinates with local law enforcement to secure the safety of the victim and adult protective investigator and to investigate possible criminal activity. To ensure proper cooperation and coordination, the Legislature required the program to establish working agreements with all jurisdictionally responsible county sheriff's offices and local police departments.
  • The program has signed working agreements with 342 of 346 law enforcement agencies, but the agreements have had limited effectiveness. Several problems relating to a lack of coordination between the program and local law enforcement continue to delay the provision of adult protective services and/or hinder criminal investigations.
  • To improve effectiveness, the program should work with local law enforcement to increase training at the local level, establish written local protocols, and conduct periodic meetings. The program also should improve coordination by designating a contact person at each local law enforcement agency and adult protection unit, and conducting periodic meetings with the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association.


Related Reports
  1. OPPAGA Report: Adult Protective Services Takes Steps to Improve Coordination with Local Law Enforcement Agencies
    Report 06-47 May 2006
  2. Progress Report: Improvements Needed in the Department of Children and Families Adult Services Program
    Report 03-08 January 2003
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, elder abuse, adult protection, investigation, protective services, working agreement, health, disabled adults, vulnerable adults, adults, elder abuse, in-home services, Medicaid waiver, abuse, neglect, exploitation, backlog, protective services, waiting list, monitoring, optional state supplementation, screening, fee assessment