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Elder Justice Initiative

Elder abuse is a growing concern across the country, with older adults increasingly becoming targets of neglect, exploitation, and violence. Prosecutors play a critical role in seeking justice for these vulnerable victims. The NDAA Elder Justice Initiative provides prosecutors with essential resources, technical assistance, and training to support their work in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting elder abuse cases.

This initiative brings together leading experts, legal tools, and educational materials to ensure prosecutors have the knowledge and support needed to hold offenders accountable while prioritizing victim safety. Whether you need case-specific guidance, connections to other prosecutors, or access to cutting-edge research, our initiative is designed to enhance your ability to effectively handle elder abuse cases.

Elder Justice Initiative Publications

Prosecutors’ Challenges in Elder Abuse Cases: Navigating Decision-Making Capacity and Consent Defenses
The need for this discussion is undeniable. Over the past two decades, research shows prosecutions for elder abuse have steadily increased. Still, many cases remain unreported or are not prosecuted, especially when concerns arise about a victim’s decision-making capacity. Uncertainty around capacity, combined with limited or unclear evidence, often prevents cases from advancing—leaving older victims without the justice they deserve.
Prosecuting Elder Abuse: Insights from the 2025 National Elder Justice Prosecutor Survey

The 2025 National Elder Justice Prosecutor Survey offers the first nationwide look in two decades at how prosecutors handle cases of elder abuse, neglect,and financial exploitation. Conducted by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) with support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative (EJI), the survey reflects responses from 244 prosecutors representing rural, suburban, urban, and mixed jurisdictions across the United States.

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National Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Survey Report: A Path Forward

The National Elder Abuse MDT Survey Report (2026) finds that Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) are essential to addressing the growing complexity of elder abuse cases but remain significantly under-resourced, relying heavily on goodwill, informal relationships, and stretched staffing. Based on 116 nationwide respondents, the report shows strong philosophical commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, and ageism‑aware practices, yet limited capacity to fully implement them due to funding shortages, lack of training, inadequate access to specialized professionals, and minimal evaluation infrastructure. 
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Get Support for Your Elder Abuse Cases

The fight against elder abuse requires collaboration. The links below provide direct access to key national organizations that offer research, policy guidance, and victim support resources.

Connect with Experts in Elder Abuse Prosecution

Navigating elder abuse cases can be complex, but you are not alone. Our Contacts page provides direct access to experienced prosecutors who have agreed to be listed as resources for their peers. Whether you need strategic guidance or insight into a particular legal challenge, these professionals are available to help.

Name Jurisdiction Email
Alison Martin Henrico County,  VA Mar189@henrico.us
Kimberly Zachrison South Dakota AG Kimberly.zachrison@state.sd.us
William Johnson Pros. Atty Council of GA wjohnson@pacga.org
Melinda Tempelis Outagamie County, WI Melinda.tempelis@da.wi.gov
Sara Sadowski Milwaukee County, WI Sara.sadowski@da.wi.gov
Christian Stringer Oregon AG Christian.stringer@doj.state.or.us
Joanne Sheldon 4th District AG – TN sjsheldn@tndagc.org
Kailyn Heston Polk County, IA Kailyn.Heston@polkcountyiowa.gov
Jordan Ford NC Fin. Crime Conf. Jordan.m.ford@nccourts.org
Marina Spahr N. Dakota AG mspahr@nd.gov
Matthew Hansen Davis County, UT mhansen@co.davis.ut.us
Francine Norz 14th District – S. Carolina fnorz@scsolicitor14.org
Chelsey McHugh Salt Lake County UT CMcHugh@slco.org
Monique Gudger Wash DC AG Monique,gudger@dc.gov
Jaymi Sterling St. Mary’s County, MD jaymi.sterling@stmaryscountymd.go
Jill Hollander Fulton County, GA jill.hollander@fultoncountyga.gov
Jim Seeger Maricopa County, AZ seegerj@mcao.maricopa.gov
Bill Archer Vinton County, OH billvcpa@gmail.com
Paul Greenwood San Diego, CA (Ret) pgreendda@gmail.com
Jane Walsh Denver, CO Jane.walsh@denverda.org
Elen Klem Oregon DOJ Ellen.klem@doj.state.or.us
Lisa Marie Bristol Gwinnett County,  GA Lisamarie.bristol@gwinnettcounty.com
Catherine Vannier St. Louis, MO Catherine.vannier@prosecutors.mo.gov
Peter Tempelis Waukesha County, WI Peter.tempelis@da.wi.gov
Bryan Townsend NH DOJ Bryan.j.townsend@doj.nh.gov
Vered Adoni Bergen County, NJ vadoni@bcpo.net
Colleen Baharav Clark County, NV Colleen.baharav@clarkcountyda.com
Margaret Gallagher Yellowstone County, MT mgallagher@yellowstonecountymt.gov
Jodie Schumacher Richland County, OH jschumacher@richlandcountyoh.gov
Janine Launay Manhattan DAs LaunayJ@dany.nyc.gov
Page Ulrey King County, WA Page.ulrey@kingcounty.gov
Franklin Engram DeKalb County, GA

feengram@dekalbcountyga.gov

Connect with Experts in Elder Abuse Prosecution

Navigating elder abuse cases can be complex, but you are not alone. Our Contacts page provides direct access to experienced prosecutors who have agreed to be listed as resources for their peers. Whether you need strategic guidance or insight into a particular legal challenge, these professionals are available to help.

Elder Abuse Forum

A secure, members-only platform where prosecutors can discuss emerging issues, exchange strategies, and collaborate on complex cases. Click here to create an account and get started today.

Technical Assistance Request

If you need case-specific support, submit a request to NDAA’s team for expert guidance on prosecuting elder abuse.