People with disabilities are at substantially higher risk for violence, abuse and criminal victimization than the general population. Unfortunately, t here has been little attention focused on promoting violence identification and crime reporting by persons with disabilities. The identification and reporting of violence typically involves individuals' self-identifying as victims and accessing safety and reporting information and resources, as well as the availability of sensitive and accessible reporting methods.

The purpose of the Identification and Reporting of Violence By People with Disabilities Project is to reduce the prevalence of violence against people with disabilities. The goal of the proposed studies is to improve the identification, reporting, and response to violence against persons with disabilities living in the community. We are conducting a multiple perspective, multiple method program of research and dissemination. The National Crime Report Survey is being conducted with about 2600 randomly selected urban, suburban and rural police jurisdictions from across the United States to examine how disability status is being incorporated in crime reports, protocols for facilitating crime reporting, barriers to crime reporting and effective crime reporting practices. The Violence Screening, Safety and Reporting Study is a randomized study of the efficacy of a computer-assisted approach for violence screening, safety planning and abuse and crime reporting on the safety and reporting behaviors of approximately 300 women with disabilities. The Crime Reporting Facilitators and Barriers Study will include focus groups with adults with disabilities and criminal justice personnel to investigate practice approaches that will increase crime reporting by persons with disabilities.

The Project is being conducted by the Regional Research Institute at Portland State University, the School of Nursing at the Oregon Health & Science University and the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities at the Baylor College of Medicine. Project findings, recommendations and products will be comprehensively disseminated in partnership with disability, domestic violence, and criminal justice leaders and organizations. A Violence and Disability Summit will bring together national experts in criminal justice, domestic violence, disability, and survivors of violence with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are involved in all aspects of the project, and we are focusing on the transfer of research findings to practical applications in planning, program administration and delivery of services to individuals with disabilities.