Arlene Markarian recently retired from public service after serving over 32 years as a prosecutor where she supervised the prosecution of thousands of domestic violence and elder abuse cases in her career. In addition to homicides and high publicity cases, Arlene successfully prosecuted a large variety of domestic violence and elder abuse cases including attempted murder, conspiracy, assault, kidnapping, burglary, grand larceny, and criminal contempt cases, as well as cases where the victim testified for the defense.

Arlene Markarian has been working with FCA [Family and Children’s Association] since April 2023 and is currently the Coordinator for both their SOS Safe Observant Seniors elder abuse program and the Nassau County Elder Abuse Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team [EMDT].

In addition to managing FCA’s SOS Program, Arlene assists victims of abuse navigate the NYS criminal justice system as well as other court systems. She also coordinates the Nassau County Elder Abuse EMDT, which is comprised of professionals from numerous senior social service agencies, non-profits, and financial institutions as well as attorneys, geriatricians, social workers, and law enforcement who meet monthly to help the victims of some of the most complex elder abuse cases in the County. As Coordinator of the Nassau County EMDT, Arlene not only manages the Team and their meetings but is also responsible for the cases that are presented to the Team as well as providing case consultations to all Nassau professionals.

As an Assistant District Attorney with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Arlene Markarian was the creator and Chief of their Elder Abuse Unit since her hiring in November 2016 until she retired in March 2023. During that time, Arlene was also responsible for bringing together professionals throughout Nassau County to create the Nassau County Elder Abuse EMDT.

Prior to working in the Nassau DA’s Office, Arlene Markarian was an Assistant District Attorney with the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office for over 26 years. She joined their Domestic Violence Bureau in 1994 and was promoted to Chief of their Elder Abuse Unit when the District Attorney tasked her with creating the Unit in 1999. Arlene helped create Brooklyn’s Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team.

Arlene Markarian has conducted hundreds of trainings and seminars on the detection, investigation, and prosecution of domestic violence and elder abuse cases for many agencies and organizations—locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally—including the judiciary, District Attorney’s offices, law enforcement, the New York Prosecutors Training Institute, NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Adult Protective Services, hospitals, and other senior service providers. Arlene continues to provide such trainings while working for FCA and is a regular instructor on elder abuse investigations for the Nassau County Police Academy.

Arlene Markarian was recently the proud recipient of the NYS Office for the Aging 2024 Arthur Mason Advocacy Award recognizing her career and work in Elder Justice. She was also honored with the 2014 Ruth E. Moskowitz Award presented by the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term, Gender Fairness Committee honoring “Women of Character, Courage & Commitment” in celebration of Women’s History Month.