The incidence of criminal victimisation of individuals with an intellectual disability

Abstract

The extent of criminal victimisation of individuals with an intellectual disability was compared to the nondisabled population. The results indicated significantly higher levels of victimisation in regard to both personal and property offences. Victimisation rates varied between organisations that provided services to individuals with different levels of disability. The mildly‐moderately disabled clients of one organisation were particularly susceptible to both personal and property crimes. The organisation dealing with the more severely disabled cohort was faced with very high personal victimisation rates, but relatively low property victimisation rates. In addition, risk of victimisation varied with residential situation, the greatest risk experienced when living alone or with other disabled individuals. Examination of the extent of crime reporting indicated that while police were likely to become aware of the crime, it was unlikely to be the disabled victim who did the reporting.