Minnesota Lawmakers Fix Loophole in Elder Sex Abuse Laws
Minnesota lawmakers have developed a bill that will close a loophole in the state’s sexual predator laws. The bill would make it so that nursing home employees convicted on charges of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult are automatically added to the state’s list of predatory offenders.
This bill was introduced in an effort to curb the increasing number of elder sexual abuse incidents that have been occurring. The current list already includes people convicted of sexual criminal conduct, kidnapping, soliciting a minor, and possessing child pornography. This new bill would force people convicted of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult to register to the list of offenders immediately.
Enhancing the list and adding those with criminal abuse charges to the list seems like a good way of ensuring the safety of elderly residents of nursing homes. However, many people are unhappy about the creation of this new addition to the list. Some people realize that a person added to the list of offenders will have a difficult time finding employment elsewhere. As a result, some people believe this will leave facilities shorthanded, causing the elderly to require assistance from relatives or other unqualified people. However, that is not a reason for any criminal abuse offenders to continue to be allowed access to vulnerable, elderly individuals. This new law will prevent elderly from facing possible pain and suffering that comes with elder abuse. Nobody should have to suffer in this way.
