Prosecuting Elder Abuse: A 2026 Webinar Series for Prosecutors
Presented by the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) in partnership with the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
Prosecutors handling elder abuse cases face unique challenges, from building relationships with older victims and navigating cognitive capacity questions to prosecuting complex financial exploitation and coordinating with law enforcement. Despite their critical role in holding offenders accountable and enhancing older adult safety, prosecutors too often lack the experience and support to approach these cases with confidence. This six-part webinar series provides the tools and strategies to change that.
Each 90-minute webinar features subject matter experts from the field — including experienced prosecutors, investigators, clinicians, and financial crime specialists — offering practical guidance you can apply immediately to strengthen your cases and better support older victims. All webinars will be recorded and made available on demand following the live presentation, along with a companion quick-reference resource tool for prosecutors.
Please note this series is open to prosecutors only, unless otherwise indicated.
All webinars are offered at no cost. All sessions are held from 1:00–2:30 p.m. Central Time.
2026 Webinar Schedule
Communicating Effectively with Older Victims
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Presenters: Peter Tempelis J.D., Waukesha County (WI) District Attorney’s Office and Ann Laatsch J.D., National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
Effective prosecution starts with effective communication. Learn why working with older victims requires intentional, specialized approaches — and what that looks like in practice. This session is also open to prosecuting agency victim/witness staff.
Working with Law Enforcement
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Presenters: Christopher Merkle, Asst. Chief Investigator, Office of the District Attorney, Boulder, CO and Tara Patet J.D., Senior Prosecutor, St. Paul City Attorney’s Office (ret.)
Elder abuse cases are stronger when prosecutors and detectives collaborate early and often. Hear from both sides of the partnership as to what works.
Working With Financial Institutions on Financial Exploitation Cases
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Presented with the National District Attorneys Association
Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse — and the hardest to unravel. Learn how to work with banks, tell the financial story, and use free investigation tools.
Victims with Diminished Capacity
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Presenters: Candace Heisler J.D., Heisler and Associates and David Franklin, Psy.D., MHA, UC Riverside School of Medicine
Cognitive impairment doesn’t necessarily make a case more difficult. Learn how to distinguish competency from capacity, build evidence-based cases, and counter defense strategies.
Expert Witness Strategies
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Presented with the National District Attorneys Association
Geriatricians, neuropsychologists, and forensic accountants can transform your case — if you know how to find, prepare, and utilize them.
New Legal and Legislative Tools
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Presented with the National District Attorneys Association
New statutes are giving prosecutors stronger tools to address elder abuse. Learn what’s changed and how to put these tools to work in your jurisdiction.
Registration Information
Registration is open to prosecutors only unless otherwise noted.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u7-SAA6-ToO_HZBmE2Mw4w
*We cannot guarantee accessibility requests made less than two weeks before the event.
For questions, contact Ann Laatsch, NCALL Justice System Coordinator, at alaatsch@ncall.us.
This project is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-24-GK-03047-ALLX awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.