[dbaust] Landmark Report - Beyond doubt: the experiences of people with disabilities reporting crime

From: "Trudy Ryall" <trudy.ryall@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <dbaust@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:16:08 +1000

  

Fyi.

Beyond doubt: the experiences of people with disabilities reporting crime 

On 21 July 2014 the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission 
published research into the experiences of people with disabilities reporting 
crime to the police in Victoria. 

I am pleased to be sending you electronic copies of that report entitled Beyond 
doubt: the experiences of people with disabilities reporting crime. 

The report highlights that the level of crime experienced by people with 
disabilities is substantial. This is in spite of – and sometimes the result of 
– systems that are designed to provide justice and safety. We know that some 
people are at greater risk, including people with intellectual and mental 
health disabilities, communication disabilities and women with disabilities. 

Our study found that people with disabilities face significant and multifaceted 
barriers when it comes to reporting crime to police. For those living in 
environments that are socially isolating additional barriers exist, because 
these crimes occur behind closed doors. 

People with disabilities and the people who provide care and support to them 
lack knowledge of how and when to report a crime, whether the conduct is 
criminal and knowledge of their rights. Some are fearful of repercussions if 
they report a crime. 

One of the strongest messages in this study is that people with disabilities 
fear that they will be seen as lacking credibility when they report a crime to 
police. In some cases police members refuse to accept reports. In other cases 
reasonable adjustments, which are especially important for people with 
communication disabilities are not made. 

The report found that when police have a good understanding of disability, 
believe victims and take the report seriously, higher levels of satisfaction 
with police practice is reported. Throughout our research it became clear that 
there is a critical need to provide clarity on the roles and expectations of 
police working with people with disabilities – a victim cohort with specific 
needs. 

The justice system does not operate in isolation. Police practice is affected 
by, and affects, practices in other systems. Although there are departmental 
policies in place for disability services, there is a lack of clarity within 
services about when and how to undertake internal investigations and action. 
This leads to inconsistency in response. 

The report makes 16 recommendations to various government departments and 
agencies, including the Victoria Police, Department of Justice, Department of 
Human Services, Department of Health, Judicial College of Victoria, Court 
Services Victoria and the Office of the Public Advocate. 

I hope that Beyond doubt will contribute to police, government and community 
efforts to ensure that Victoria has an accessible, consistent and comprehensive 
system to respond to the experience of crime for people with disabilities, and 
to improving safeguarding for people using disability and health services. 

More information about this project can be found at 
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/reportingcrime. 

Kate Jenkins 
Commissioner 


.......................................................................................
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission 
Level 3, 204 Lygon Street |Carlton 3053 | Victoria, Australia

Telephone: 1300 891 848 | Fax: 1300 891 858
Email: communciations@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au





The Commission's Privacy Policy can be found at 
www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/privacy 


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[dbaust] Landmark Report - Beyond doubt: the experiences of people with disabilities reporting crime

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