Some Statistics on Crime Victims with Disabilities

One study found that more than 70% of women with developmental disabilities had been sexually assaulted, and that nearly 50% of women with mental retardation had been sexually assaulted 10 or more times in their lifetime (Sobsey and Doe, 1991).

This represents a 50% higher rate than the rest of the population.

Children with disabilities are also at greater risk. One study of children with disabilities found that they were 2.1 times as likely to be victims of physical abuse and 1.8 times as likely to experience sexual abuse as children without disabilities (Crosse, et al. 1993).

Despite such high rates of victimization, few of these cases come to the attention of law enforcement.

Please join us in our efforts to address the needs of crime victims with disabilities. Contact us at mdubin@ciladvocacy.org for more information.