---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 21721"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "21721"
heading: "Establishment of best practices for local, State, and Federal data collection"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/21721"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 217 — Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution"
  - "Subchapter II — Improved Data Collection and Federal Coordination"
---

# §21721. Establishment of best practices for local, State, and Federal data collection

- (a) **In general—** The Attorney General, in consultation with Federal, [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies, shall—
  - (1) establish best practices for data collection to focus on [elder abuse](/usc/34/21701.md?p=2); and
  - (2) provide technical assistance to [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), local, and tribal governments in adopting the best practices established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Deadline—** Not later than 1 year after October 18, 2017, the Attorney General shall publish the best practices established under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) on the website of the Department of Justice in a publicly accessible manner.
- (c) **Limitation—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or obligate compliance with the best practices established under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–70, title II, § 201, Oct. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 1211.)