Investigating Sexual Abuse: Findings of a 15‐Year Longitudinal Study

Bob McCormack · Denise Kavanagh · Shay Caffrey · Anne Power

52 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

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Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies Military, Security, and Education Studies Elder Abuse and Neglect

Abstract

Background There is a lack of longitudinal large‐scale studies of sexual abuse in intellectual disability services. Such studies offer opportunities to examine patterns in disclosure, investigation and outcomes, and to report on incidence and trends. Methods All allegations of sexual abuse (n = 250) involving service users as victims or perpetrators of sexual abuse over a 15‐year period in a large Irish community‐based service were analysed based on the data extracted from extensive contemporaneous case notes. Results Victims or families were the most common concern raisers of abuse. Following multidisciplinary investigation, almost half (47%) of all allegations of sexual abuse were confirmed (n = 118). In confirmed episodes, more than half the perpetrators were adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities, while almost a quarter were relatives. The most common type of abuse was sexual touch, although 31% of episodes involved penetration or attempted penetration. The most common location was the family home, followed by the day service and public places. A notable feature was the variation in the incidence of abuse over the study period, largely caused by episodes of multiple abuse. Conclusions The incidence of confirmed episodes of sexual abuse of adults with intellectual disabilities may be higher than previously estimated. There is an urgent need for statutory guidelines, which require reporting of adult abuse, and provide protection for bona fide whistle blowers, similar to existing child protection legislation.

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References

1994Violence and abuse in the lives of people with disabilities : the end of silent acceptance?2008No Secrets: Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse 1991Patterns of sexual abuse and assault 1993Interrogative suggestibility, confabulation, and acquiescence in people with mild learning disabilities (mental handicap): Implications for reliability during police interrogations 1993THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITES: RESULTS OF A TWO YEAR INCIDENCE SURVEY 1999Annotation: The Abuse of Disabled Children 1992A Report on the Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities.1995THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: REPORT OF A SECOND TWO‐YEAR INCIDENCE SURVEY

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2011Sexual Abuse Prevention for People with Severe Developmental Disabilities 2012Access to justice for people with disabilities as victims of crime in Ireland 2020The disproportionately high prevalence of learning disabilities amongst adults attending Saint Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre 2019Development and Psychometric Properties of the Detection of Sexual Abuse Risk Screening Scale (DSARss)

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