Acting to address the growing challenge of elder abuse in its population, the State of Oregon is about to create a elder abuse. If Oregon's legislature agrees to fund the position, an elder abuse resource prosecutor would act through that state's department of justice to punish perpetrators of this crime and protect some of our society's most vulnerable members - senior citizens - from further exploitation. Elder abuse is a phenomenon that goes much deeper than just wrongdoing committed in nursing homes and care facilities - indeed, the most likely abusers are actually relatives themselves. By setting up a state office with the power to prosecute and investigate elder abuse matters as well as advise local DAs on elder abuse in their jurisdictions, Oregon is showing it's ahead of the curve in confronting this crime and keeping seniors safe.