Investigation Checklist

Your Email Address
Medical Records
- Emergency room
- Treating physician(s)
- Nursing facilities
- Pharmacy
- Dentist(s)
- Other
Specific Types of Medical Documents to Request
- Lab reports
- Nurses' notes
- X-rays
- Social workers’ notes
- Adult Protective Services (APS) records of current and prior contacts
Legal Records
All law enforcement contacts with involved parties and witnesses, including:
- Physical inventory checklist (Elder Abuse First Responder Checklist)
- 911 tapes
- Arrest reports
- Criminal histories
- Jail records - Phone calls
- Jail records - Visitor logs by or on behalf of suspects
Testimony & Background Evidence
- Psychological/psychiatric evaluation of victim (when consent, undue influence, or capacity may be an issue)
- Victim testimony or deposition with full-cross examination, as soon as possible after charging
- Videotape the victim at the early stage of the investigation, including the following:
  - Orientation (how does the victim perceive time and place)
  - Victim testifying to consent
  - Victim naming identity of suspect
  - Victim signing his/her name in video to compare to signature on questioned documents (financial abuse)
  - Impact of crime (video record a walk-through of neglect or abuse crime scene, if possible)
Interviews
- Witnesses who can describe the victim’s condition, activities, and level of functioning and interaction with the defendant at time of incident and before. Include a description of changes over time.
Possible witnesses:
- Family and friends
- Acquaintances/social
- Banking/financial
- Medical providers (prior and current)
- Hair stylists/barbers
- Faith community
- Local businesses
- Neighbors
- Adult day care services
- Social services (Meals on Wheels, etc.)
- Adult Protective Services
- Payees for expenses the suspect paid with the victim’s money
- Civil attorneys
- Delivery personnel
- Postal carriers
- Meter readers
Financial Records
- Credit card records
- Investment account records
- Credit reports
- Suspect’s bank records
- Victim’s bank records
- Checkbook registers
Legal documentation
- Powers of attorney
- Prior civil cases
- Court/protection orders
- Wills and trusts
- Property deeds
- Conveyances
- Advanced care directives/living wills
- Guardianship/conservatorship documents
Consultation with Experts
- Handwriting analysts
- Geriatricians
- Forensic accountants
- Geriatric psychologists and psychiatrists
- Wound care experts
- Medical examiner
- Civil attorneys
Physical Evidence
Crime scene photos and video, including, if relevant:
- Contents of refrigerator, cupboards, medicine cabinets (include actual bottles/containers for prescriptions to show physician and pharmacy, possession and full/empty status given recommended dosage over time from the date of the last refill)
- Suspect’s living area
- Victim’s living area
- Major new purchases made by the suspect
- Victim’s body
- Injuries over time
- Other signs of neglect
- Clothing victim was wearing at time of incident (include adult diapers if applicable)
- Bedding
- Locks on outside of doors
- Writings/journals/letters
- Photos and videos related to conduct
- Address books and calendars
- Defendant’s and victim’s ISP records
- Defendant’s computer, flash drives, etc.
- Medications and medical supplies
- Legal file from victim’s civil attorney
- Assistive devices (or lack thereof)
- Nutritional supplements
- Receipts for purchases
- Restraints and bindings
- Checkbooks, check registers

Community Resources

First Responder Checklist

Evidence Collection Checklist

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