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Do people with mental retardation become victims of crime more often than those without a disability?
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Some researchers have found that people with disabilities are about twice as likely as others to be victimized (Sobsey & Doe, 1991). Crimes committed against people with mental retardation are often labeled as abuse and neglect which understates the criminal victimization problem.
Factors such as impaired cognitive abilities and judgment, physical disabilities, insufficient adaptive behaviors, constant interactions with "protectors" who exploit them, lack of knowledge on how to protect themselves and living and working in high-risk environments increase the vulnerability of people with mental retardation to victimization (Luckasson, 1992).
Many victims with mental retardation may not report crimes because of their dependency on the abuser for basic survival needs. When victims do report crimes, police and court officials may not take the person's allegations seriously or be reluctant to get involved. Additionally, people with mental retardation often lack the resources necessary to prosecute (Sobsey, 1994).
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