Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities

• NCJ Number: 304422
• Date Published: October 2020
• Agencies: OVC-Sponsored

Annotation

This introductory page for a training toolkit on serving crime victims with disabilities is tailored to the distinctive services provided by victim advocates, attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, and other first responders.

 

Abstract

Summaries and online access are provided for resources that instruct users in the characteristics and provision of services and environments for interacting with and serving crime survivors who are disabled. The instructional material is comprehensive and culturally responsive. It is delivered via written material, videos, and case studies of best practices for law enforcement officers, forensic interviewers, victim advocates, legal professionals, and others who have a role in serving and interacting with crime survivors with disabilities. The toolkit resources are divided into sections. One section, entitled “Back to the Basics” provides an introduction to disability and victimization, including how to understand functional limitations, legal requirements, and types of victimization. A second section of the toolkit is entitled, “Crime Scene to Courtroom,” which presents information for first responders and legal professionals in serving and interacting with disabled victims. The third section is entitled “Making the Case” and addresses how to conduct interviews with victims with disabilities, including training on interviewing children and adults with disabilities, as well as suggested strategies for accommodations during the forensic interview. The fourth section of instructional material is entitled, “Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities from Crisis to Healing.” Resources and training are provided on trauma-informed support for crime victims with disabilities.