DAA - Disability Awareness in Action

USA: Disabled people face higher rates of crime

Posted 06/10-09 at 19.31

The first national crime survey of crime against disabled people has been produced by the US Justice Department.

The figures relate to 2007 and are age adjusted.

Among the report's findings are the following:

• Disabled people are twice as likely to suffer rape or sexual assault than non-disabled people.

• Non-fatal violent crime against disabled people is one and a half times more likely than against non-disabled people.

• Disabled women are more likely than men to be the victims of crime.

• Finally, only 20% of disabled people who were the victims of crime felt that they'd been targeted because they were disabled.

For the full report see: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/capd07.htm

Editorial comment:

The report is important not only in giving a picture of disabled people's experience of crime, but also in showing what can be done by treating disabled people as a distinct group for the purposes of collecting information. This is accordance with Article 31 on the UN Convention that calls for disaggregated data that can help identify and address barriers that prevent disabled people exercising their rights.