Conference Welcome & Opening Sessions

Ms. Kristen Mahoney serves as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Office of Justice Programs. As such, she is responsible for the management of nearly 7,916 awards totaling $4,491,467,168. She has comprehensive and practical experience creating criminal justice policies, programming and technical assistance that aid state, local, and tribal communities. She has provided national leadership and outreach on criminal justice issues by identifying and supporting evidence-based programs, best practices, and innovative approaches to challenges facing criminal justice stakeholders. In2016 she was recognized for her work developing and implementing the Violence Reduction Network (now the National Public Safety Partnership) and was awarded the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive by President Barack Obama.

From 2006-2012,Kristen served the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control& Prevention for the State of Maryland. Ms. Mahoney came to state government after serving as the Chief of Technical Services for the Baltimore Police Department and the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for the City of Baltimore. Ms. Mahoney received her B.A. from Sweetbriar College and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore. She is a member of the Maryland Bar and has practiced law with the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland, specializing in the representation of abused and neglected children.

Kirsten Pabst is serving her second term as the elected prosecutor in Missoula County, Montana. Ms. Pabst has been trying complex cases and teaching trial practice to new lawyers for the past 24 years. In her role as County Attorney, she supervises a staff of 43, serving multiple law enforcement agencies and county departments, while maintaining an active caseload. Ms. Pabst frequently speaks, lobbies, writes, and testifies on topics including domestic violence, trial advocacy and criminal justice reform and has served as faculty and lectured for the National Advocacy Center, NDAA, the University of Montana School of Law, the Montana County Attorneys Association, state chapters of Women in Law Enforcement, and others. Ms. Pabst has been named Criminal Justice Professional of the Year and recently received two national achievement awards for her work in the evolving field of trauma and secondary trauma. She successfully implemented Montana’s first formal Prosecution-Led Diversion and Criminal Mediation programs. Recently the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Unit bestowed its highest honor upon Ms. Pabst for her longstanding partnership with the agency and her commitment to protecting people, property and natural resources. She is currently working with the Victim Services subcommittee of the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.

Nancy G. Parr began her career as a prosecutor in Suffolk, Virginia and has worked in Chesapeake, Virginia since 1994. For six of those years, she also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Additionally, she was an instructor at the National Advocacy Center from 2001 through 2010. On March 1, 2005, Ms. Parr was sworn in as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Chesapeake to complete her predecessor’s term. She was first elected in November 2005. Since that date, she has implemented new programs and has promoted community outreach in addition to carrying out the traditional role of a prosecutor’s office. Her programs include Girls’ Empowerment Conferences, Boys’ Leadership Conferences, “Traveling the Road to Success” multi-week programs, and ‘Playing on the Right Team” basketball tournaments. Ms. Parr is a member of many boards and organizations. Some of these include the President’s 2020 Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course Faculty (2019-2022), Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (President 2014-2015), Commonwealth’s Attorney Service Council (Chairman 2014-15), State Crime Commission (2012-14), Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse (2014-15), Virginia State Bar Council (1st Judicial Circuit representative 2011-17), Chairman of Board of Governors for the Criminal Law Section of the Virginia State Bar (2018-19), State Child Fatality Review Team (2012-14), Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia Chesapeake Division (since 2008), and Champions for Children - Prevent Child Abuse (since 2017). Also, she is a Child Life Volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. She was recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as a 2018 Leader in the Law, inducted as a Virginia Law Foundation Fellow in 2017, awarded the 2016 Robert F. Horan, Jr. Outstanding Commonwealth’s Attorney Award and the 2014 John Hanna Youth Traffic Safety Award, named Grand Marshall for the 2011 South Norfolk 4th of July Parade, selected as 2008 Woman of the Year for the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake, and was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Leadership Award in 2007. Ms. Parr graduated from the University of Virginia with High Distinction and from T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. She has been practicing law since 1983. Ms. Parr is proud to be the first Virginian and the second woman to serve as President of the National District Attorneys Association.

Frank Russo is the Director of Government and Legislative Affairs at the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). With more than 5,500 members nationwide NDAA is recognized as the leading source of national expertise on the prosecution function and is a valuable resource for the media, academia, government, and community leaders. Through continued advocacy, engagement with criminal justice stakeholders, and solicitation of ideas and input from its members, the association is able to provide the prosecutor perspective on issues including human trafficking, drug policy, forensic science, domestic violence, electronic evidence, asset forfeiture, child abuse, juvenile justice, and many more.

Prior to joining NDAA, Frank worked on Capitol Hill as a Law Clerk with both the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on the Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. He is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, in Washington, D.C. where he currently serves on the school’s Alumni Council, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He holds a license to practice law in the State of Georgia. 

Senator Brian Schatz has dedicated his career to public service as a strong advocate for Hawai‘i’s middle-class families, a clean energy economy, seniors, our veterans, and Native Hawaiians. As Hawai‘i’s senior United States Senator, Brian serves on four Senate Committees essential to the future of Hawai‘i: Appropriations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Indian Affairs. Senator Schatz also serves as Chair of Senate Democratic Special Committee on the Climate Crisis as well as Chief Deputy Whip, a leadership position that gives him a greater role in shaping policy and communications for Senate Democrats. From 1998 to 2006, Brian Schatz was a member of the State House of Representatives. He served as the House Majority Whip, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Vice-Chair of Water, Land and Ocean Resources, Vice-Chair of Consumer Protection and Commerce, and as a member of the Hawaiian Affairs, Higher Education, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Committees.