Reasons To Act
Crimes committed against persons with disabilities are a frequently unrecognized and underreported problem that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The reasons for underreporting and inadequate investigations include a lack of awareness that a crime has occurred, lack of effective coordination between law enforcement and adult protective and human services agencies, and reluctance of police, prosecutors, and judges to rely solely on the testimony of a person with a disability.
Identifying and understanding the following issues allow jurisdictions to more effectively and efficiently address crimes of abuse:
