CONTACT: Diana Henry
Rippe Keane Marketing
608-277-9097
[email protected]

Madison, WI – Disability Rights Wisconsin joins community leaders in supporting crime victims during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 8-14.

According to the U.S Department of Justice, between 2009 and 2015, individuals with disabilities were at least twice as likely to be victims of violent victimization as people without disabilities. In 2015, nearly 30 of every 1,000 people age 12 or older with a disability reported violent victimization, compared to 12 of every 1,000 people age 12 or older without a disability.

Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) supports persons with disabilities across the state who have been victims of crime through its Victim Advocacy Program.

The Victim Advocacy Program assists people with disabilities who have experienced a crime, even if the crime has not been reported. Victim Advocacy Specialists work with each eligible person to receive advocacy and access services to move forward, find justice, and obtain safety and stability in whatever form the victim/survivor needs.

“One important way to make sure rights of victims are honored is to give them a voice,” said Nadya Rosen, Managing Attorney, DRW Victim Advocacy Program. “We want victims of crime with disabilities and their families to know this week and every week that we have services available to assist them in moving forward.”

Advocacy involves assisting individuals to understand and exercise their rights, report incidents of crime and/or victimization, ensure access to and participation in criminal justice and victim response systems, and promote recovery from victimization by receiving needed supports and services at home and in their community.

“We applaud the efforts being made by our community partners to call particular attention to crimes against people with disabilities,” added Rosen. “We want victims, survivors, family members, guardians, disability services providers, and victim services providers to know that crime impacts people with disabilities at disproportionate rates and that people with disabilities who are victimized need specific types of supports and services to be able to recover and thrive.”

About Disability Rights Wisconsin

Disability Rights Wisconsin is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Wisconsin, charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping individuals free from abuse and neglect. To learn more about the resources available, visit: http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/learn/victim-advocacy-program/

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