MDT Summit Day 1 Session 1 - Page Ulrey

Why It Matters

Effective multidisciplinary collaboration turns convictions into real protection for elder victims, closing the gap between legal outcomes and lasting financial and health security.

Key Takeaways

• Multidisciplinary teams essential for effective elder‑abuse prosecutions across jurisdictions.
• Early case lacked coordination, leaving victim financially and socially vulnerable.
• Capacity assessments are vital to rebut consent defenses in dementia cases.
• Conviction alone failed to restore victim’s assets or secure care.
• Partnering with police, APS, and federal agencies yields stronger prosecutions.

Summary

Page Ulrey opened the MDT Summit by recounting his evolution as King County’s elder‑abuse prosecutor, illustrating how early investigations were hampered by fragmented law‑enforcement contacts and an absence of dedicated advocates. He contrasted that environment with today’s multidisciplinary model that integrates police detectives, adult‑protective services, geriatric experts, and federal partners to address the complex legal, medical, and financial dimensions of elder abuse.

The centerpiece of his talk was the 79‑year‑old victim, Leon, whose isolation made him vulnerable to a car‑sale scam that spiraled into a $190,000 financial exploitation. Despite moderate dementia, Leon’s capacity was initially mis‑read, allowing the perpetrators to claim consent. A thorough police investigation, capacity evaluation, and coordinated prosecution ultimately secured guilty verdicts, yet the case exposed systemic gaps: APS closed the file, no guardianship or money‑management safeguards were put in place, and restitution was unlikely.

Ulrey highlighted the tension between a courtroom victory and true justice for the victim. He quoted participants questioning whether a prison sentence alone remedied Leon’s loss, noting that “justice does not look the same for everyone.” The discussion underscored that elder‑abuse cases demand more than criminal sanctions; they require post‑conviction support, financial oversight, and victim‑centered services.

The broader implication is clear: without a sustained, cross‑agency response, prosecutions risk becoming hollow victories. Policymakers and prosecutors must embed protective services, capacity screening, and restitution mechanisms into the case workflow to prevent revictimization and ensure that elder victims receive comprehensive relief, not merely a conviction.

Original Description

Making the Case: How Collaboration Among Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and MDT Member Agencies Improves Prosecution:

There is some evidence that cases reviewed by an MDT have higher rates of referral for prosecution. That may be because MDTs are effective and efficient in ensuring better investigations and prosecutions of elder abuse crimes by bringing together many professionals to share their expertise, to share information, and to improve communication. Members of the MDT who attend to the needs of the victims play an important role in facilitating prosecutors’ ability to hold abusers accountable. This session will describe how MDTs benefit elder abuse prosecution, discuss best practice for collaborating with law enforcement through MDTs, and will showcase ways that MDTs have made elder abuse investigations more successful through case examples.