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WHAT WE DO!

The Seniors vs. Crime Project is a Florida, non-profit organization that operates as a Special Project of the Florida Attorney General’s Office. In 1989 Attorney General Bob Butterworth was directed by the Florida Legislature to chair the Crimes and the Elderly Task Force. To continue the work of the Legislature's Elderly Task Force, Attorney General Butterworth created an ongoing Florida crime prevention program focused on seniors. The new organization became the Seniors vs. Crime Project, and Ret. Col Vern Thornton was named as the first Executive Director. The Seniors Vs Crime Project has been a Special Project of every Florida Attorney General since it began operation, including the current Attorney General, Pam Bondi. Additional information may be found on SeniorsVsCrime.Com.

The Primary Goal of the Seniors Vs Crime Project is to reduce the victimization of senior citizens who are often targeted for specific crimes or scams based on their age. The Project accomplishes this goal by providing various educational and crime prevention programs to senior citizen groups; investigating complaints and seeking restitution for seniors in appropriate instances and by providing investigative agencies with senior volunteers to assist them with specific investigations. The Seniors Vs Crime project handles thousands of cases for seniors every year. Since 2001 Project Offices have handled more than 39,000 cases, and recovered over $16,000,000 in real dollars plus over $12,000,000 in realized gain for Florida seniors. That is a total of $28,000,000 for Florida seniors that would have otherwise been lost.

No-Charge (Free) Assistance with Civil Cases.  The Seniors Vs Crime Project Senior Sleuths assist people involved in civil disputes with contractors and other businesses or individuals who may have defrauded or otherwise taken advantage of them financially. There is no charge or fee for the services of the Project's Senior Sleuths. Assistance is provided through information collected by Senior Sleuths working at one of the 44 local Seniors Vs Crime Project Offices throughout the state.

Victim must make the request.   The services of the Seniors Vs Crime Project must be requested by the victim in the complaint.  The Project cannot respond to suggestions that a third party has a problem and should be contacted. Victims may be assisted in filing their complaint by family, friends or Power of Attorneys but the victim must sign the Request for Assistance form before assistance can be rendered.

Project Office Visits.   All contact between the Senior Sleuth and the complainant and others who may be involved, is done in person, at the local Office or by other Office connected communications such as postal mail, email and/or phone. Senior Sleuths must conduct all business from within the confines of an Office.

TWO OPTIONS FOR ASSISTANCE:  When requesting assistance from the Senior Sleuths at a Project Office, a person has two options.

OPTION ONE:  The person may only be looking for coaching "assistance" through a situation. Seniors Sleuths can advise the senior on how to handle a particular matter and not get involved with anyone except the senior. The victim is not required to sign anything to receive this type of assistance. It's just one senior talking with/advising another senior.

OPTION TWO:  A second option is for a Senior Sleuth to intervene and represent the complainant. In these instances the Senior Sleuth will thoroughly research the complaint and attempt to mitigate the case with all parties involved. Many people, initially only seek advice, then after some discussion they quickly realize the situation is more complex, so they ask for a Senior Sleuth to assist in resolving the situation. This second option does require written authorization from the victim.

If you are involved in a civil situation and you request the Seniors Vs Crime Project's assistance, the Senior Sleuths assigned to your case will do everything possible to reach a settlement without cost to you and without public or family embarrassment. Senior Sleuths are successful in a high percentage of cases.