Form 1103-0120 Prosecutor Survey Instrument

Dear Prosecutor,

The National District Attorneys Association, in cooperation with the Elder Justice Initiative at the US Department of Justice, is inviting you to participate in a survey of prosecutors related to prosecuting elder abuse. The survey has twenty questions and will take you approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary. We are interested in learning the facilitators and challenges experienced when prosecuting elder abuse cases. The information you supply will be used by the Elder Justice Initiative to identify gaps in needed prosecutor training and resources, and to the extent possible, fill those gaps.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important survey. To take the survey, click here:

OMB Control No. 1101-0120 (expires 4/21/28)

Estimated time to complete: 15 minutes

Your participation is voluntary

Do not include any personal information on this survey including name, email address, phone number, etc

Send comments about this survey to Travis Bird at [email protected]

1. How many prosecutors are in your office?

1. 0-10

2. 11-20

3. 21-50

4. More than 50

2. How would your jurisdiction best be described?

1. Rural

2. Suburban

3. Urban

4. Mixed

1. Does your office have a unit, area, or person dedicated to the prosecution of crimes in which older adults are the victims?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

4. How long have you been prosecuting elder abuse cases, either exclusively or as part of a broader caseload?

1. Less than 1 year

2. 1-3 years

3. 4-6 years

4. 7-10 years

5. More than 10 years

6. I do not prosecute elder abuse cases (Skip to Q20)

5. How often do you encounter elder abuse cases in your jurisdiction?

1. Rarely

2. Sometimes

3. Frequently, alongside other types of cases

4. Most of my cases involve elder abuse

5. All my cases involve elder abuse

6. Which type of elder abuse do you encounter most frequently? (Select all that apply if you encounter multiple types equally.)

1. Physical

2. Emotional or psychological

3. Financial exploitation

4. Neglect

5. Sexual

6. Other (please specify) _______________________________

7. How are elder abuse cases most commonly initiated in your jurisdiction?

1. APS

2. LE

3. Victim

4. Caregiver

5. Facility

6. Healthcare provider

7. Concerned person

8. Other (please specify) ____________________________

8. Which agencies does your office work with when investigating elder abuse? (Select all that apply.)

1. Adult protective services

2. Law enforcement

3. Interoffice investigative unit/task force

4. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU)

5. Health care facility or licensing board

6. Public health department

7. Area agency on aging

8. Social services

9. Other (please specify) _____________________________

9. Does your office have a victim advocate specifically assigned to work with older victims?

1. Yes

2. No

10. Do the victim advocates in your jurisdiction have specialized training in working with older persons?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

11. Does your office offer or do you have the opportunity to receive specialized training for prosecutors handling elder abuse cases?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

12. Which strategies does your office utilize when handling cases involving older victims? (Select all that apply.)

1. Early and/or intensive contact with the victim

2. Coordinate inside the office and with outside agencies and family

3. Use videotape and/or preserve statements of victim

4. Accelerated proceedings or advance on the docket

5. Special investigative procedures or obtain specific records

6. Make the victim’s time or role in the process easier

7. Work to build trust and understanding with the victim

8. Use staff sensitive to older victims and crimes against older persons

9. Obtain protection order or prohibit contact between victim and defendant

10. Use tougher charging, plea, or sentencing standards under statutes specific to older or vulnerable adults

11. Work to ensure restitution

12. Use vertical prosecution

13. Evaluate psychological or medical status of victim

14. We do not utilize strategies specific to older victims

15. Other (please specify) ________________________________

13. Does your office participate in public education or prevention efforts that highlight crimes committed against older persons?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

14. What do you consider the most difficult aspect of handling elder abuse cases? (Select all that apply.)

1. Victim cooperation

2. Witness intimidation

3. Physical health of the victim

4. Diminished mental capacity of the victim

5. Proving undue influence

6. Lack of resources

7. Lack of expert witnesses

8. Lack of expertise

9. Other (please specify) ____________________________

15. Have you encountered any legal or procedural obstacles unique to prosecuting elder abuse cases?

1. Yes (please specify) ________________________

2. No

16. Do you participate in a multidisciplinary team specific to the abuse of older persons?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

17. What specific legislative changes, if any, do you believe would improve the prosecution of elder abuse cases? Consider improvements related to prosecution, investigation, victim support, or reporting mechanisms. (Please specify) _____________________

18. How do you gather information and stay informed about practices and legal issues related to elder abuse? (Select all that apply)

1. Professional training or workshops

2. Conferences or seminars

3. Legal publications or journals

4. Online resources (websites, blogs, etc.)

5. Networking with colleagues

6. Professional associations or organizations

7. News media (articles, reports, etc.)

8. I do not actively gather information or updates in this area

9. Other (please specify) __________________________________

19. What topics related to elder abuse would you like to see more information and training resources developed on? (Please specify) ___________________________

20. Please share any additional comments regarding the prosecution of elder abuse cases, including specific support or resources that would be helpful to you. (Please specify) ___________________________________________