Elder Justice Program Training

Candace Heisler served as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for 25 years. Heisler headed the unit that handled elder abuse and domestic violence cases for 10 years and has developed and delivered training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and Adult Protective Services for over 20 years. She was an instructor for the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) and the San Francisco Police Academy for more than 10 years.

Education: JD, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco BA, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Candace J. Heisler, J.D., served as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for over 25 years. During this time, she headed the Domestic Violence Unit, which handled both domestic violence and elder abuse cases, as well as the Charging, Misdemeanor, and Preliminary 2 Hearing Units. She was an Adjunct Professor at Hastings College of the Law for more than 20 years. She now teaches a graduate course at Virginia Tech on ethics and aging.

Ms. Heisler has written for and trained a variety of professionals about elder abuse, domestic violence, and the criminal justice system, including work sponsored by the American Bar Association, Futures Without Violence, the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office on Violence Against Women, and the Judicial Council of California. She frequently presents at the annual National Adult Protective Services Association and other state Adult Protective Services (APS) conferences on related topics. Ms. Heisler has authored several curricula on interviewing alleged perpetrators, addressing undue influence, and working with the criminal justice system for APS Professionals.

Publications include “Elder Abuse Detection and Intervention: A Collaborative Approach”; “Elder Abuse” in Victims of Crime; “Elder Abuse Forensics: The Intersection of Law and Science” in Elder Abuse: Research, Practice and Policy; and ""Ethics and Vulnerable Elders: The Quest for Individual Rights and a Just Society.""

Awards include: California Governor’s Victim Services Award; San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women Leadership Award; California Crime Victims United “Prosecutor of the Year” Award; California District Attorneys Career Achievement Award; Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation Excellence in Instruction Award; the National College of District Attorneys’ Distinguished Faculty Award; the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) “Rosalie Wolf Award”, and Hastings College of the Law “Alumna of the Year”. She teaches for and consults with a wide variety of governmental, educational, and private entities.

Patricia M. Speck graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing in 1982 (BSN), 1985 (MSN), and 2005 (DNSc). After retiring from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing as the DNP Public Health Nursing and DNP Forensic Nursing Concentration Coordinator, she joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing in the Department of Community Health, Outcomes, and Systems.

Currently, Dr. Speck is a Professor and Coordinator of the graduate Advanced Forensic Nursing program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. She is internationally recognized as a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an expert Advanced Forensic Nurse, caring for patients experiencing an intersection with the legal system. She consults with governments and universities internationally in Africa, Eurasia, the Caribbean, and Central, South and North America with government bureaucracies, universities, institutions, and Non-Governmental Organizations to evaluate and implement infrastructure change in response to victims of violence. As a forensic nurse practice expert and researcher, she develops policy, evaluates programs and builds nursing workforce capacity through publication, education, and violence prevention initiatives. Her research interests focus on forensic nurse practices and trauma-informed interventions, the scientific basis for nurse interventions, patient health outcomes following violence, and evidence for the FN practice, including DNA detection.

Dr. Speck was President and founding member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (2003-2004); Chair, American Public Health Association's Family Violence Prevention Forum/Caucus (2011-2013); founding board member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing (2018); founding member of the Forensic Nursing Science Section of the American Academy of Forensic Science; and founding board member and current President (2022-2024) of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board.

Dr. Speck’s awards include: Fellow, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (2008); Distinguished Fellow, International Association of Forensic Nurses (2001); Distinguished Fellow, Academy of Forensic Nursing (2018); and Fellow, American Academy of Nurses (2002). She is the recipient of over 25 awards, most notably the Lifetime Professional Impact Award from End Violence Against Women International (2017) and the American Academy of Forensic Science’s Virginia Lynch Innovation Award (2023).

Professional Experience

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Vice Chair
Economic Crimes Unit, Elder Abuse Project
Nov. 2019 – March 2024

• One of two full-time senior deputy prosecuting attorneys that assisted in the investigation and prosecution of elder financial exploitation, physical and sexual abuse and neglect cases in King County.
• Works collaboratively with police, social service agencies, and medical professionals to improve the referral and investigation of elder abuse cases.
• Trains first responders, law enforcement and community groups nationally and locally to better recognize and respond to Elder Abuse cases.
• Assists Unit Chair of Economic Crimes Unit with supervision of Complex Fraud and General Economic Crimes prosecutions.

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Civil Division, Litigation Section
July 2018 – Oct. 2019

• Defended King County, King County employees and officials in lawsuits brought by employees and members of the public who claim personal injury or civil rights violations in U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington as well as King and Pierce Counties.

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Vice Chair
Special Assault Unit, Kent, WA
Feb. 2014 – June 2018

• Supervised a specialized prosecution unit in Kent Washington that handles cases involving the sexual and physical abuse of children, as well as the sexual abuse of adults including elders and vulnerable adults. The position oversees specially trained prosecutors, qualified to address the complex and sensitive nature of these cases.

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Elder Abuse Unit
Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2014

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Chief Deputy
Complex Prosecutions and Investigations (CPI)
July 2007 - Oct. 2008

• Worked directly with the elected Prosecutor and supervised all Complex Prosecution and Investigation (CPI) cases and operations. The Division handled all complex economic crime cases from embezzlements, mortgage fraud, and identity theft to elder financial abuse and neglect. It was comprised of 3 units (Special Operations, Complex Fraud and Abuse Unit, Economic Crimes Unit.)

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Assistant Chief Deputy
Criminal Division
2003 - July 2007

• Worked directly with the Chief Criminal Deputy and the elected Prosecutor in supervising Criminal Division cases and operations. During this period the Criminal Division had over 250 employees (150+ attorneys) and handled 20,000 cases each year.

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Seattle and Kent)
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Criminal Division
1994 - 2003

• Handled and tried complex felony cases including assault, robbery, rape, child sexual assault, burglary, and homicide. Primary concentration in sexual assault and domestic violence crimes.

King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
Director
2008 - 2010

• Appointed by King County Executive Ron Sims and confirmed by King County Council to direct the planning, operations and activities of a large, urban multi-facility and multi-program correctional services system providing pre-trial services and a range of secure and community-based alternatives to adults and juveniles.
• Responsible for the safe, secure and humane detention of King County adult felons and misdemeanants, both pretrial and sentenced for one year or less.
• Managed budget of $126 million and an authorized and budgeted staff of 1,007 employees.

Hall, Zanzig, Widell
Partner
1998 - 2000

• Litigation firm handling general commercial litigation and plaintiff’s litigation. Assisted with start-up of firm.

Education

Columbus School of Law J.D.
Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.
University of Washington
University of Santa Clara

Professional Memberships

Member, Washington State Bar