From: mha23x@gmail.com   
      
   VULNERABLE PERSONS   
      
   May 30, 2013  |    
   The Vulnerable Persons Unit was created by the Attorney General in 2001 in   
   response to the revisions made by the Legislature of the Mississippi   
   Vulnerable Adults Act.   
      
   The Vulnerable Persons Unit investigates and prosecutes persons who abuse,   
   neglect, or exploit a vulnerable adult residing in a private home. Mississippi   
   law defines a vulnerable adult as a person, whether a minor or adult whose   
   ability to perform the    
   normal activities of daily living is impaired due to a mental, emotional,   
   physical or developmental disability or dysfunction, or brain damage or the   
   infirmities of aging.   
      
   The law also established criminal penalties for committing these offenses   
   ranging from one year in the county jail to 40 years in prison.   
      
   This unit currently consists of one prosecutor and five investigators who   
   coordinate with local law enforcement as well as with the Department of Human   
   Services to guarantee that Mississippi’s vulnerable persons in private homes   
   are protected.   
      
   This unit is also responsible for conducting state-wide training of law   
   enforcement officers , judges, district attorneys, state agencies and   
   investigators at the Department of HS with regard to issues arising under the   
   Vulnerable Persons Act. This    
   training provides insight to street level police officers in the specific   
   areas of recognition of, and proper response to, allegations of exploitation   
   of individuals who meet the criteria under vulnerable adult laws.   
      
   Complaints of abuse or neglect of patients living in health care facilities,   
   such as nursing homes or personal care homes, should be reported to the   
   Medicaid Fraud Unit of the Attorney General’s Office at (601) 359-4220 or   
   toll free 800-852-8341.   
      
   Who is a Vulnerable Person?   
      
   Any person (children included) whose ability to perform the normal activities   
   of daily living or to provide for his/her own are or protection is impaired   
   due to a mental, emotional, physical or development disability or dysfunction,   
   or brain damage or    
   the infirmities of aging. This includes all residents or patients of a care   
   facility.   
      
   What is abuse?   
      
   The willful or non-accidental infliction of physical pain, injury or mental   
   anguish   
   The unreasonable confinement of a vulnerable person   
   The willful deprivation by a caretaker of services which are necessary to   
   maintain the mental and physical health of a vulnerable person.   
   Includes sexual abuse   
   Does not mean conduct which is a part of the treatment and care of, and in   
   furtherance of the health and safety of a patient or resident of a care   
   facility   
   Includes, but is not limited to, a single incident   
   What is neglect?   
      
   The inability of a vulnerable person who is living alone to provide for   
   themselves the food, clothing, shelter, health care or other services which   
   are necessary to maintain their mental and physical health   
      
   The failure of a caretaker to supply the vulnerable person with the food,   
   clothing, shelter, health care, supervision or other services which a   
   reasonably prudent person would do to maintain the vulnerable adult’s mental   
   and physical health   
      
   Includes a single incident   
      
   What is exploitation?   
      
   The illegal or improper use of a vulnerable person or his or her resources for   
   another’s profit or advantage with or without consent of the vulnerable   
   person, and includes acts committed pursuant to a power of attorney   
      
   Includes a single incident   
      
   To contact the Vulnerable Persons Unit:   
      
   P.O. Box 220   
   Jackson, MS 39205-0220   
   Telephone: 601-359-4158   
   Fax: 601-359-4420   
      
      
   http://www.ago.state.ms.us/divisions/vulnerable-adult-unit/   
      
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