carmody 1991 invisible victims sexual assault of people with a disability

8/6/2019 Carmody 1991 Invisible Victims Sexual Assault of People With a Disability

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Australia an d N ew Zeala nd Journal o f Developmental Disabilities1991, Vol. 17, No. 2, 229-236.

I N V I S I B L E V I C T IM S : S E X U A L A S S A U L T

O F P E O P L E W I T H A N

I N T E L L E C T U A L D I S A B I L I T Y

M O I R A C A R M O D Y 1

Social Policy Co nsultant& Educator

T h i s p a p e r d i s c u s s e s t h e t a c k o f a tt e n t io n w h i c h h a s b e e n g i v e n b y h e l p i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s ,po lice , wel fa re and lega l sys tem s con cern ing the sex ua l assau l t o f adu l t s who a re in te ll ec -t u a l ly d i s a b l ed . R e a s o n s w h y p e o p l e w i th i n t e ll e c tu a l d i s a b i li ty a r e p a r t ic u l a r ly v u l n e r a b l eto sexu a l assa u l t a re a l so exp lored . A rese arch pro jec t cond uc ted in 1989-1990b y t h e a u t h o rf o r th e N S W W o m e n ' s C o - o r d i n a t io n U n i t i s d es c r ib e d a n d t h e m a j o r f i n d in g s d i sc u s s ed .

Th e 1988 Au s t ra l i an Bu reau of S ta t is t ics survey of d i sab i l i ty in Aus t ra l i a revea leda to ta l o f 2 .5m Au s t ra l i ans o r 15.6 pe r cen t o f the pop ula t ion were iden t i f ied as hav-ing a d i sab i l ity. Othe r s tud ies (Cocks , 1985) ind ica te ap pro x im ate ly 3 per ce n t o f ou rpo pu la t io n h as a n in te l l ec tua l d isab i l ity. A pe rson wi th a n in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty i sgenera l ly cons idered as someone whose in te l l ec tua l func t ion ing i s s ign i f i can t lyl o w e r t h a n t h e n o r m .

Nin e ty per cen t o f peo ple wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i l ity a re mi ld ly d i sab led .Adu l t s wh o h ave a m i ld l eve l o f in te l l ec tua l d isab ility" ma y work in o pe n o r she l te redem ploy m ent , live inde pen den t ly o r wi th fami ly, f r i ends o r in a res iden t ia l f aci li ty.

T h e m a j o r i t y o f t he se pe op l e h a ve n o add i t i ona l phys i ca l o r s enso ry d i sab i li ti e s.There i s a con t inu ing s t rugg le fo r people wi th an in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l i ty, the i r

pa r en t s a n d t he s t a f f who work w i th t hem . Th i s s t r uggl e invo lve s ga in ing g r ea t e ra c cep t ance o f t he i r ab i li ti e s and r igh t s f o r i nc r ea s ing i ndependence . A t t he s am et ime , t h e r e i s a n o f t en r ea li s ti c conce rn abo u t peop l e w i th d i s ab i l it y be ing t akena dv an t a ge o f o r e x p lo i te d . Ex p lo i t a t i on ca n t ake m an y fo rms such a s r e s t ri c ti ngpeo p l e ' s a cce s s to t r a i n ing p rog ram s , i n fo rma t ion abo u t t he i r l ega l ri gh ts and r e s-pons ib i l i t i e s , oppor tun i t i es to deve lop re la t ionsh ips and f inanc ia l , phys ica l andsexua l exp lo i ta t ion .

Th e d i scuss ion of sexua l assa u l t o f peo ple wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty needs tobe co ns ide r ed w i th in t he f r am ew ork o f a ll p eop l e s ' ri gh t f o r p ro t ec t i on f romexplo i ta t ion . Sexua l assau l t i s f i r s t and fo remos t a c r imina l o ffence . I t has beenincreas ing ly ac cep ted in the l as t fi f teen years tha t sexua l assau l t i s a se r ious soc ia lp rob lem conf ron t ing a l l soc ie t i es and many ind iv idua l s in these soc ie t i es . Peoplewi th in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l it i e s a re par t o f these soc ie ti es and unfo r tuna te ly a re a l sosuscep t ib le to exper iences o f sexua l v io lence . Howe ver, h i s to r ica l t r ends in the t rea t -

i A d d r e s s f o r c o r r e sp o n d e n c e : M s M o i r a C a r r n o d y, B l a ck t o w n C o l l e g e o f TA F E , M a i n S tr ee t,Black town, 2145.

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m e n t an d ca r e o f pe o p l e w i th i n t e ll e c tua l d i s ab i li ti e s ha s o f t en f a il ed i n p r epa r in gt hem fo r t he c ha l l en ges o f da i l y li v ing i nc lud ing p ro t ec t i on f rom sexua l a s s aul t.

Th e fo l lowing d i scuss ion wi ll focus on the i s sues con cern ing the sexua l assau l t o fadu l t s wi th a n in te l l ec tua l d i sab i li ty. I t wi ll be sh ow n th a t peop le wi th an in te ll ec -t ua l d i s ab i li t y a re pa r t i c u l a r l y v u lne r ab l e t o be ing s exua l l y a s s au lt ed an d t h a t t hesys tems des igned to ass i s t them are fa i l ing to recognise o r address the i r spec i f i cneeds .

I nc i dence o f s e xua l a s s au l t

A c cu ra t e s t a t is ti c s co nce rn ing t he p r eva l ence an d i nc idence o f sexua l a s s au l ta m o n g pe op l e wh o a r e i n te l l ec tua ll y d i s ab l ed a r e d i f fi cu lt to ob t a in . M os t d i s ab i l it yse rv ices do no t co l lec t da ta on th i s i s sue . Po lice f igures a re a l so inaccu ra te as the re i sno spec i f i c da ta co l lec t ion which iden t i fi es the p resen ce o fa n in te l lec tua l d i sab i l ity.T h e N S W B u r e a u o f C r i m e a n d S ta ti st ic s t h a t m o n i t o r s s ex u a l a s s a u lt m a t t e rsbefore the cou r t s has ind ica ted no spec i f ic da ta a re co l lec ted tha t iden t i fi es whe the rthe v ic t im has an in te l l ec tua l d i sab i li ty.

Th e Ne w Sou th W a le s (NSW ) D ep a r tm en t o f He a l t h r e cen t l y i n s ti t u ted d i s ab i l it yas a spec i fi c i t em in i t' s da ta co l lec t ion of the p a t te rns o f re fe r ra l to Sexua l A ssau l tServices . Th is co l lec t ion com m en ce d in Jan ua ry 1989. F igures fo r the f ir s t s ix mo n-t h s o f 19 89 r eve a l si gn i fi c a n t nu m ber s o f peop l e w i th an i n t e ll e c tua l d i s ab i l it yrequ i r ing the ass i s tance o f Sexua l Assau l t Serv ices .

O f the 855 adu l t s re fe r red to D ep ar tm en ta l Sexua l A ssau l t Serv ices , 55 o r 6 .4 per

cen t were in te l lec tua l ly d i sab led . Th ese f igures a re l ike ly to be an u nde res t im ate o ft he a c t ua l i nc idence o f s e xua l a s s au l t o f d i s ab l ed peop l e . I t i s an t i c ipa t ed t ha tr e f er r a ls w i ll i n c rea se a s bo th s exua l a s s au l t an d d i s ab il it y worke r s bec om e m or eawa re o f the need to in te rvene in these m at te r s .

Th e ma jo r i t y o f v i c t im s i n t h e s a m p le expe r i enced vag ina l , ana l and o r a l pene t r a -t ion . Th e u se o f wea pons s uch a s kn ive s , r opes o r b lun t i n s t rumen t s was l ow;s imi l i a r to the expe r ience o f ch i ld sexua l a ssau l t v ic t ims . Th e vas t m ajor i ty o fa s s au lt s t ook p l ace i n e i t he r t h e v i c t im ' s o r a s s a i l an t 's h om e w h ich i s cons i s t en t w i thp ro f il e s o f se xua l a s s a u l t f o r t he ge ne ra l po pu l a t i on . Po l i c e a c t i on was an t i c i pa t ed i no n l y a t h i rd o f c a se s de sp it e t h e na tu r e o f t he c r imes com mi t t ed .

T h e F a m i l y P l a n n i n g A s s o c i at io n o f N S W h a s b e e n i n t h e f o r e fr o n t o f r u n n i n gs ex e du ca t i on t r a i n ing p r o g r am s fo r peop l e w i th an i n te l le c tua l d i s ab i li t y fo r ove rt e n y e ar s. E d u c a t o r s h a v e b e e n i n c re a s in g l y a l a r m e d b y t h e n u m b e r o f p a r t ic i p a n t sin courses wh o ha ve bee n sexu a l ly assau lted . In p reco urse in te rv iews in 1989 wi thf ou r t e e n pa r ti c i pa n t s , wo rk e r s conc luded twe lve pa r t i c i pan t s h ad been s exua l lya s s au lt e d . T h i s op in i on w as reach ed f rom the i n fo rma t ion vo lun t a r i l y p rov ided b yp a r t i c ipan t s , t he na tu r e o f th e c r imes com m i t t ed an d t he r eac t ions o f t he pa r-t i c ipan t s t o t h e exp e r ienc e . The a l leged o ff ende r s we re pe r son ne l w ork ing w i t hc l ien t s, f am i ly mem bers , f e l low res iden ts o r em ployees .

Ov erseas research in to the inc id ence of sexua l assa u l t o f peo ple wi th d i sab i li t ie sp ro v i de s ev ide nce t ha t t he p rob l em i s o f s i gn if ic an t p ropo r t ions . A su rvey o f non -i n s t it u t io na l i z ed pop u l a t i on o f e igh ty s even fem a le ado l e scen t s conduc t ed 1984 i nC in c in na t i , U SA r ev ea l ed s ex ual a s s au l t o r i nce s t occu r red i n on e t h i rd o f t he m i ld lyd e l a yed g ro up ( s ic ) an d a qua r t e r o f t he m ode ra t e ly de l ayed g roup (sic ).

H a r d (1 98 6) f o u n d 8 3 p e r c e n t o f w o m e n a n d 3 2 p e r c e n t o f m e n h a d b e e n s e x ua l lyassau l ted ou t o f a g roup o f 95 peo ple wi th in te l lec tua l d i sab i li t ie s . The Cen t re fo rW om en ' s Po l icy S tud ies (1984), e s t imated tha t 100 ,000 peo ple w i th d i sab i l i ti e s werer ap e d i n t he U n i t ed S t a te s i n 1981, an d t ha t t he occu r r ence o f o the r f o rms o f s exua lassau l t aga ins t people wi th d i sab i l i t i e s was cons iderab ly h igher.

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CARMODY 231

A Vi c t o r i a n s t u d ySilent Victims: A Stu dy o f Peop le with Intellectual Disabilities asVictims o f Crime(1 98 8) p r e p a r e d f o r t h e O ff ic e o f t h e P u b l i c A d v o c a t e , r e v e a l e d t h e

h i g h i n c i d e n c e o f s e x u a l a s s a u l t a m o n g s t p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i sa b i li ty.N i n e t e e n a g e n c i es a g r e e d t o m o n i t o r t h e i r c a s e s o f a l le g e d c r i m e a g a i n s t p e o p l ewi th a n in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l i ty dur ing the l a s t qua r te r o f 1987 . T he agenc ies inc lud edg o v e r n m e n t a n d n o n - g o v e r n m e n t o rg a n is a t io n s . O f t h e 1 44 a l le g e d c ri m e s r e p o r t e dto agenc ies dur ing the s tudy per iod 130 invo lved sexua l o ffences . Ther e s e a r c h e r s c o n c l u d e d :

The data suggest(s) trongly ha t sexualoffencesand physicalassault are the m ostfrequen-tly recordedcrimes against intellectually disabled people(p.14).

F r o m c o n t a c t w i th t h e a g e n c i e s in v o l ve d , t h e r e w a s s t r o n g e v id e n c e o f u n d e r-r e p o r t i n g o f c r i m e s b y p e o p l e w i t h i n t el l ec t u a l d i s a b il it ie s a n d b y w o r k e r s .

A n u m b e r o f a u th o r s h a v e d o c u m e n t e d t h e i n c id e n c e o f se x u a l a ss a u l t o f p e o p l ew i t h d i s a b i li t ie s b y a g e n c y p e r s o n n e l , c a r e t a k e r s a n d f a m i l y m e m b e r s . (A i e ll o,1986: B erk m an , 1986; Sea t t le R ape Re l ie f D ev e lo pm en ta l Disab i l i t i e s Pro jec t ; 1979,1 98 0) A i e l lo r e p o r t s o f h e r o w n c l in i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f w o r k i n g w i th o v e r n i n e t y m e n ,w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n w i t h d i sa b i li ti e s. I n o n l y o n e c a s e w a s t h e v i c t im a t t a c k e d b y as t ranger. Th i s s i tua t ion h igh l igh t s the pa r t i cu la r vu lnera b i l i ty o f peo p le wi th anin te l l ec tua l d i sab i l i ty to sexua l a ssau l t.

Vu lnerab i l i ty to Sexua l Assau l t.

T h e r e a n u m b e r o f f a c to r s w h i c h m a k e p e o p l e w i th a n i n t e ll e c tu a l d i s a b i li t y p a r-t i c u la r l y v u l n e r a b l e t o s e x u a l a s s a u lt . T h e r e a r e i n e x i s te n c e a n u m b e r o f f a l sea s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i sa b i li ty. F o r e x a m p l e : t h a t n o - o n ew o u l d t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f a d i s a b l e d p e r s o n , t h a t a n y f o r m o f s e x u a l c o n t a c t ise n j o y e d b y p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b i li t y w h o a r e m o r e e a s il y s t i m u l a t e d s ex -u a l l y t h a n o t h e r p e o p l e o r t h a t p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b il i ty h a v ei m p a i r e d s e x ua l it y.

T h e r e i s a r a n g e o f a tt it u d e s a n d v a l u e s in t h e a r e a o f h u m a n r e l a t io n s a n d s e x -ua l ity. T h i s i s over la id wi th conc ern to p ro tec t peo p le wi th a n in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l ityf r o m e x p l o i t a ti o n . T h i s c o n c e r n n e e d s t o b e b a l a n c e d w i t h t h e p e r s o n ' s r ig h t t o l iv e af u ll a n d ' n o r m a l ' l if e, i n c l u d i n g t h e r i g h t to s e x u a l e x p r e ss i o n . A n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o fs e x u a l b e h a v i o u r i s a c r u c ia l r e q u i r e m e n t i n e n s u r i n g t h a t p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c -tua l d isab ility" a re p ro tec ted f r om sexua l a ssau l t . W hi le sexua l a ssa u l t i s p r im ar i ly ac r i m e o f v i o le n c e , t h e s e x u a l c o m p o n e n t o f t h e a s s a u l t d i st i n gu i s h e s i f f r o m o t h e rf o r m s o f a ss a u lt . I f p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l l e c tu a l d i s a b i l it y a r e n o t m a d e a w a r e o f t h e i ro w n s e x u a l f e e l in g s a n d t h e i r ri g h ts t o c h o o s e o r n o t c h o o s e s e x u a l p a r tn e r s , c o n f u -s i o n a n d t h e p o s s i b i li t y o f s e x u a l e x p l o i t a t i o n i s in c r e a s e d . A l a c k o f s e x e d u c a t i o na n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o d e v e l o p a s e x u a l i d e n ti t y re s u lt s i n c o n f u s io n , a n d u n c e r t a i n t ya b o u t w h a t i s a c c e p t a b l e b e h a v i o u r f r o m o t h e r p e o p l e . I t i s n o t p o s s ib l e t o p r o te c tp e o p l e f r o m s e x u al a s s a u l t u n l e ss t h e y h a v e a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f th e i r o w n b o d i e sa n d h u m a n a n a t o m y. A n y d i s c u s s io n o f s e x u a l a s s a u lt is m o s t u s e f u l w i t h i n a d i s-

c u s s i o n o f t h e r a n g e o f a p p r o p r i a t e a n d e x p l o it a t iv e s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r.M an y pe op le w i th in te ll ec tua l d i sab i l it i e s hav e res t ri c ted soc ia l l ives . Th i s ca nr e su l t i n i n c r e a se d d e p e n d e n c e o n f a m i l y a n d c a r eg i v er s a n d a l a c k o f c o n t a c t w i thp e o p l e o f t h e i r o w n c h o o s i n g . I t a ls o l im i t s t h e i r c o n t a c t a n d k n o w l e d g e o f p r o t e c -t io n o r v i c t im s u p p o r t s e rv ic e s. O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r d e v e l o p i n g f r ie n d s h i p s a n d s e x u a lr e l a t i o n s h i p s m a y b e s e v e r el y r e s tr i ct e d b y l i v i n g i n a n i n s ti t u ti o n a l s e tt in g . L i m i t e de x p e r i e n c e o f s oc i a l s it u a t io n s a n d r e l a t i o n s h ip s e n c o u r a g e s a n a i v e b e l i e f i n t h eg o o d i n t e n t i o n s o f o t h e r p e o p l e . T h i s m a y r e s u l t i n a n i n a p p r o p r i a t e r e l i a n c e o n

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c a r e -g i v e rs a n d a d e s i re t o b e c o m p l i a n t a n d p l e a s e o t h e r p e o p l e .L i m i t e d a c c e s s t o w r i t te n m a t e r i a l m a y r e d u c e p e o p l e ' s a c c e s s t o s e x u a l a s s a u l t

p r e v e n t io n m a t e ri a l. G o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s a n d o t h e r a g e n ci es h a v e l a rg el yf a i le d to p r o d u c e i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h u s e s s i m p l e la n g u a g e o r is p r o d u c e d i n o t h e rm e d i u m s s u c h a s a u d i o t a p e s o r v is u a l m a t e r i a l . L i m i t e d v e r b a l s k il ls m a y h i n d e ra t t emp ts a t d i sc los ing the assa u l t o r be in g und ers to od due to a d i ff icu l ty in com -m u n i c a t i n g v e r b a l ly.

S o m e p e o p l e w i th i n t e ll e c tu a l d i s a b i li ti e s m a y h a v e l i m i t e d m o b i l i ty t h a t c a nr e s u lt i n a n i n a b i li t y t o e s c a p e f r o m u n w a n t e d s e x u a l a d v a n c e s . I t m a y a l s o re s u l t i nan inc reased re l i anc e on fam i ly, o r r es iden t ia l workers .

I n N S W t h e d i f fi c u lt ie s e x p e r i e n c e d b y p e o p l e w i th a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b il i ty w h ow e r e s e x u a l l y a s s a u lt e d w e r e i d e n t if i e d b y t h e s t a te S e x u a l A s s a u l t C o m m i t t e e i n1 98 9. S o m e e a r l i e r i n it ia t iv e s b y c o m m i t t e d w o r k e r s r e s u lt e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f at r a i n i n g p r o g r a m f o r h e a l t h w o r k e r s r e g a r d in g s e x u a l a s s a u l t a n d i n te l le c t u a l d is -a b i l it y ( D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h , N S W , 1 98 8) a n d a c h i l d p r o t e c t io n c u r r i c u l u m f o rc h i l d r e n w i t h a n i n t e ll e c tu a l d i s a b i li t y ( N S W D e p a r t m e n t o f S c h o o l E d u c a t i o n1 98 9). H o w e v e r th e r e w a s n o c o - o r d i n a t e d p o l i c y d i r e c t i o n o n t h e i s su e o f s e x u a la s s a u l t o f p e o p l e w i th a n i n te l l e c tu a l d i sa b i li ty. A s a r e s ul t, t h e N S W W o m e n ' s C o -o r d i n a t i o n U n i t o b t a i n e d M i n i s te r i a l a p p r o v a l i n l a te 1 98 9 t o c o n d u c t a s i x m o n t hi n v e st ig a t iv e p r o j e c t a n d p r o d u c e a d i s c u s s i o n p a p e r f o l lo w e d b y a f i n a l r e p o r t c o n -t a i n i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r a c t io n b y g o v e r n m e n t . (C a r m o d y, 1 99 0 a , b )

T h e p r o j e ct r ev e a le d a n a l a r m i n g l a c k o f a w a r e n e s s b y g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t sa n d d i s a b i li t y o rg a n i s a t i o n s o f t h e n e e d s o f p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b il i ty

w h o e x p e r i e n c e d s e x u a l a s sa u l t. W h i l e s o m e o f t h i s i g n o r a n c e c a n b e a t t r ib u t e d t o af a i lu r e t o r e c o g n is e t h e p e r v a s i v e n e s s o f s e x u a l a s s au l t, t h e r e m a i n d e r a p p e a r s t oc o m e f r o m a d e n i a l o f b a s i c h u m a n r ig h ts . D i s c u s s i o n w i th d i s a b i li t y w o r k e r s ,p a r e n t s a n d p e o p l e w i t h a n i n t e ll e c t u a l d is a b i l it y i n r e s i d e n ti a l a n d o c c u p a t i o n a lse t t ings revea led s ign i f i can t d i s sa t i s fac t ion wi th how sexua l a ssau l t a l l ega t ionsw e r e a p p r o a c h e d . D u r i n g t h e i n v e s t ig a t i o n p h a s e o f th e p r o j e c t a v a r i e t y o f r e s p o n -ses by agenc ies to sexua l a ssa u l t a l l ega t ions was revea led . Th ese inc luded :

* A genc ies ignor ing the a l l ega t ion ;

* R e q u e s t i n g t h e a l le g e d o f f e n d e r t o l e a v e o r t e r m i n a t i n g t h e i r e m p l o y m e n twi thou t a fo rmal inves t iga t ion ;

* R e q u e s t i n g t h e v i c t i m le a v e t h e f a c i li ty o r h a r a s s m e n t o f t h e v i ct im ;

* No t i fy ing the po l ice an d a r ran g ing fo r c r is i s ca re fo r the v ic t im;

* C o n d u c t i n g a n i n t e r n a l a g e n c y in v e s t ig a t i o n a n d t a k i n g a c t io n a c c o r d i n g ly ;

* I n t e r r o g a t i n g th e v i c t i m in f r o n t o f o t h e r s t a f f m e m b e r s a n d o r t h e a l le g e doffender ;

* A f a i l u r e to a s c e r t a i n w h a t t h e v i c ti m w i s h e d t o d o a b o u t th e s e x u a l a s s a u l ta n d a s s i st i n g t h e m i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e d e c i s io n ;

* N o t i f y in g th e l ic e n s in g b o d y, i n t h is c a s e th e D e p a r t m e n t o f F a m i l y a n d C o m -

m u n i t y S e r vi ce s a n d r e q u e s t i n g a f o r m a l i n v es t ig a t io n .O f p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e r n f o r p r a c ti t io n e r s w e r e f r e q u e n t i n s t a n c e s w h e r e t h e v i c t im

d i d n o t r e c e i ve c o u n s e l li n g a n d m e d i c a l s e r v i c es a t t h e t i m e o f t h e d i s c lo s u r e o rre fe r ra l to se rv ices occu r red m an y weeks a f t e r the c r is is . Th i s o f ten resu l t ed in thev ic t im requ i r ing longer t e rm t rea tm ent . I t i s a lso resu l t ed in d i ff i cu lt i e s fo r the po l iceo b t a i n i n g e v i d e n c e a n d s t a t e m e n t s f r o m w i tn e s s es a t th e t i m e o f t h e a s s a u l t o rreve la t ion .

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Pol ice Procedures .

Th e Vic tor ian (OPA, 1988c) s tudy foun d th a t peop le wi th an in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l i tya r e o f t e n r e luc t an t t o r e po r t c r imes t o po l ic e due t o p r ev ious bad expe r i ences o rr e pe r cu s s i ons w h ic h h a d fo ll ow ed such r epo rt s . Co ns t an t expe r i ence th roug hou tt h e i r li v e s o f be in g pow er le s s i n t he f a ce o f au tho r i ty a l so p l ay ed a r o le . Som e peop l ewi th a d i s ab i l it y m a y be u naw are t ha t t hey a r e a v i c t im o f a c r im e o r t ha t t hey a r een t i t l ed to seek po l ice ass i s tance .

P r o b l em s a r e a l so expe r i en ced by po l i c e i n i n te rv iewing w itne sse s who h ave anin te l lec tua l d i sab i l ity. In te rv iew ing group s d i sadv antag ed by language , cu l tu ra l o rco m m un i c a t i o n d i ff ic u l ti e s i s n o t new. P rocedu re s h ave bee n pu t i n p l ace t o i nvo lvel an guag e i n t e rp r e t e rs a nd s ome u se ha s been m ade o f i n t e rp r e t e rs f o r t he dea f . Th eA n un g a R u le s dev e lo ped i n 1976 we re d r awn up t o p rov ide gu idel ine s f o r i n te rv iew-

in g A u s t r a l i an Ab or ig i n e s . T h e Off i c e o f t he P ub l i c Adv oca t e i n Vic to r i a ha s r e com -m e nd e d t he ex t ens ion o f t he se gu ide l i ne s f o r u se w i th peop l e w i th an i n t e ll e c tua ld i sab i li ty. Co ns id era t io n needs to be g iven to s im i la r p rov is ion s in o ther s ta tes .

T h e r o l e o f th e po l i c e i n te r v iew i s o f t en con fus ing t o m an y v i c t ims o f c r ime(Sh ap land e t a l., 1985). Th is c an resu l t in d i ff icu l t ies fo r the p erso n w i th an in te ll ec -tua l d i sab i l i ty and the po l ice . A pe rso n und er s t ress ca n of ten hav e d i ffi cu l ti es inex p l a in in g c l ea r ly wha t h a s occu r red . I f t h i s pe r son ha s an i n t e ll e c tua l d i s ab il i tyth e y m a y hav e mo re t ha n u s ua l d i f f icu l ty i n com m un ic a t i ng i n a s t re s sfu l s i tua t io n .T h r e a t s a g a i n s t t he v i c t im m a d e b y t h e o f f e n d e r m a y a l so h i n d e r d i s c lo s u re o fd e ta il s. I f t h e p e r so n a l so ha s a speech im pe d im en t o r p rob l em s i n exp re s sivel a ng uag e fu r t he r p ro b l em s a r e encoun t e r ed . Wi tne s se s t o t he s exua l a s s au l t m aya l so hav e a n i n t el l ec tu a l d i s ab il i ty wh ich m ay pose add i t i ona l p rob l em s fo r t hepol ice inves t iga tion .

L a n g u a g e u s e d b y p o l i c e a n d a l a c k o f k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e w o r d s toex p r e s s t h e na tu r e o f t he s exua l a s s au l t ma y a l so h inde r c l e a r s t a t eme n t tak ing .D i ff ic u lt ie s in u n d e r s t a n d i n g c o n c e p t u a l t e r m s a n d m e m o r y p r o b l e m s m a y m a k eth e p e r so n w i th an i n te l le c tua l d i s ab i li t y appe a r a s an u n re l i ab l e w i tne s s. Po l ic eh a ve n o g u i d e l ine s f o r a lt e r na ti ve fo rm s o f in t e rv i ewing and a r e t r a ined t o f o ll ow as e t p roced u re o f o f fi c ia l l a nguage and s t r uc tu r i ng o f ques t ions .

I n J un e 1988Victorian Police Standing Orders w e r e a m e n d e d o u t l i n in g t h e p r o -cedu res to be fo l lowed for in te rv iewing people w i th an in te l l ec tua l d i sab i l i ty. Som e

of t h e p ro v i s i ons ma d e i n t he new s t and ing o rde r s i nc lude t he p r e sence o f a t h i rdp e r s o n t o f a c il it a te co m m un i ca t i o n du r ing an i n t e rv i ew and t he r ecogn i ti on t ha tt h is sh o u l d ap p ly t o bo th s u sp ec ts an d w i tne s se s , t he need fo r pa r t i cu l a r c a r e t o beexerc i sed in ques t ion ing , an d the nee d fo r the in te rv iew to t ake p lace as soo n as poss :i b le a f t e r t he m a t t e r ha s com e t o t he a t t en ti on o f the po l i c e . '

Leg is la t ive p rov is ions .

T he k ey is sue wh i ch nee ds t o be con f ron t ed r ega rd ing l eg is l a ti on i s t he bene f i t san d d i s a dv an t age s o f spe c i a l p rov i s i ons w i th in c r im ina l codes conce rn ing s exu a l

a s s a u l t o f pe op l e w i t h a n i n t e ll e c tua l d i sab i li ty. I t h a s bee n a rgued by som e l eg a lp e op l e t ha t s u f fi c ien t p ro t ec t i on fo r v ic t ims i s con t a in ed i n s exua l a s s au l t l aws t oensure peo ple wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty ob ta in the i r r igh t s. Fur ther, to c rea tes e pa ra t e p rov i s i ons s t igma t i s e s peop l e w i th an i n te l le c tua l d i sab i li ty. The coun t e ra rgu m e n t s p o in t t o t he p ro b l e m s t ha t a l l v ic t ims o f s exua l a s s au l t expe r ience i ncour t m at te r s . I t i s a rgue d tha t wi thou t sp ec ia l p rov is ions , the spec i f i c p ro b le m s ofp e op l e w i t h an i n t el l e c tua l d i s ab il i ty an d t he i r he igh t ened vu lne r ab i l it y to s exua lassau l t a re ignored . W hi le ap pro pr ia te leg i s la t ive p ro tec t ions a re impo r tan t , the i r

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b e n e f i t to v i c t im s o f s e x u a l a s s a u l t a r e l i m i t e d i f a d e q u a t e p r o c e d u r e s a r e n o t i np l a c e t o a d d r e s s t h e i n it ia l c o m p l a i n t a n d t h e p o l ic e p r o c e d u r e s f o r i n te r v ie w i n g

p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d is a b il it y. T h i s p r o b l e m i s f u r t h e r c o m p o u n d e d b y t h ei n c o n s i s t e n t w a y i n w h i c h a l l e g a t i o n s a r e a d d r e s s e d o r i g n o r e d b y d i s a b i l i t ys er v ic e s. T h e c u r r e n t s i tu a t i o n r e s u lt s i n m a n y c o m p l a i n t s n o t c o m i n g t o li g h t o r afa i lu re to p rocee d due to the conce rn tha t pe op le wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty wi l ln o t b e c o m p e t e n t w i tn e s se s .

T h e C o u r t S y s te m .

A s s t a te d p r e v i o u s ly, f e w m a t t e r s i n v o l v i n g s e x u a l a s s a u l t o f p e o p l e w i th a ni n t e l l e c t u a l d i s a b i l i t y r e a c h t h e c o u r t s y s t e m . W h e n t h e y d o r e a c h c o u r t t h ee x p e r i e n c e c a n b e o n e o f c o n f u s i o n a n d m y s t i fi c a ti o n . T h i s i s t r u e f o r t h e g e n e r a lp o p u l a t i o n . H o w e v e r, i t i s e v e n m o r e d i f f i c u l t f o r p e o p l e w i t h a n i n t e l l e c t u a ld i s a b i l i t y. F o r e x a m p l e , i n a r e c e n t c o u r t c a s e i n v o l v i n g t h r e e w o m e n w i t hin te l lec tua l a nd phys ica l d i sab i l i ti e s who ha d l ived a l l the i r l ives in a res iden t ia lfac il ity, the i r f i r s t expe r ience o f v is i ting e i the r the c i ty o f Sy dney or a c our t house ,o c c u r r e d w h e n t h e i r s e x u a l a s s a u l t c o u n s e l l o r t o o k t h e m t o c o u r t t o f a m i l ia r i s e t h e mw i t h t h e c o u r t s u r r o u n d i n g s p r i o r t o a c o m m i t t a l h e a r i n g i n w h i c h t h e y w o u l dgive evidenc e,

D e l a y s i n c a s e s b e in g h e a r d b e f o r e t h e c o u r t s h a v e b e e n t h e s u b je c t o f m u c hd e b a t e i n N S W . T h e d i ff ic u lt ie s c a u s e d b y l o n g g a p s i n t i m e b e f o r e c o u r t a p p e a r a n -c e s p o s e p a r t i c u l a r d i f fi c u lt y f o r p e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b i l it y w h o s e g r a s p o f

a b s t ra c t c o n ce p t s su c h a s t i m e m a y b e h a z y a n d w h o s e s h o r t o r l o n g t e rm m e m o r ym a y b e a f f e c te d b y t h e i r d i s a b il it y, P e o p l e w h o m a y h a v e p o o r li t e ra c y s k il ls d o n o th a v e t h e b e n e f i t o f r e f r e s h in g t h e i r m e m o r y o f th e e v e n t s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e s e x u a la s s a u l t b y r e f e re n c e t o t h e i r w r i tt e n s t a t e m e n t s . T h i s f u r t h e r d i s a d v a n t a g e s t h e m i nthe i r ro le as wi tness fo r the p rose cu t ion .

Pro secu t ion o f sexua l a ssau l t ma t te r s invo lv ing a v ic tim wi th an in te l l ec tua l d i s -a b i li t y i s a c o m p l e x m a t t e r w h i c h r e q u i r e s a d d i t i o n a l p r e p a r a t i o n b y th e p r o s e c u t o r.H e a v y c a s e l o a d s a r e p l a c e d o n p r o s e c u t o r s , H o w e v e r, i f t h e p e r s o n w i t h a n i n te l le c -tua l d i sab i l i ty is to be a b le to pa r t i c ipa te e ffec t ive ly n the p rocee d ings a nd fo r us t i cet o b e d o n e , a d d i t i o n a l t i m e s h o u l d b e a l l o c a t e d t o a l l o w t h e d e t a i le d p r e p a r a t i o nrequ i red in these cases ,

C r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n o f w i t n e ss e s is s e e n a s a n e s s e n ti a l c o m p o n e n t t o e n s u r en a t u r a l j u st ic e . T h e l a n g u a g e a n d p u r p o s e o f c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n is t h o r o u g h l y c o n -f u s i n g f o r t h e m a j o r i t y o f w i tn e s se s . A N S W s t u d y ( B r e n n a n & B r e n n a n , 1 98 8) o flanguage used in cour t s in re la t ion to ch i ld sexua l a ssau l t ma t te r s h igh l igh t s thed i ff icu l t ie s o f ch i ld wi tnesses fu l ly un der s tan d in g the in ten t ion o f ques t ions an dt h e r e f o r e p r o v i d i n g o f t e n c o n t r a d i c t o r y a n s w e r s . S i m i li a r e x p e r i e n c e s o c c u r f o rpeo p le wi th a n in te l l ec tua l d i sab il i ty.

T h e r o l e o f e x p e r t w i tn e s s es n e e d s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a ls o . I n a r e c e n t c o u r t c a s e t h ef u ll p s y c h o l o g i c a l a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e p e r s o n w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b il i ty w a s n o tp r e s e n t e d u n t i l a l l o t h e r e v i d e n c e h a s b e e n p r e s e n te d . T h i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y h i n d e r e dt h e c o u r t s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p e r s o n ' s a b i l it ie s a n d t h e n a t u r e o f th e i r i n te l l e c tu a ld i sab i l i ty. Al l the p rev ious ev idence would have been loca ted in a more rea l i s t i ccon tex t i f th i s ev idence w as hear d f ir s t. A fa i lu re to do th i s g rea t ly redu ced the pe rsonwi th a n in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty 's cap ac i ty to be un ders tood .

F u t u r e D i r e c t io n s .

P e o p l e w i t h a n i n te l le c t u a l d i s a b i li t y a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y v u l n e r a b l e t o s e x u a l a s s a u l t

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ar i s ing f rom a h i s tor ica l re luc tance to recognise the inc idence o f sexua l assau l t anda t ti tudes wh ich f a il to p repa re t hem adequa te ly fo r t he cha l lenges o fda i ly l i v ing and

soc ia l re la t ionsh ips . The se fac tors hav e resu l ted in m an y peop le wi th an in te l lec tua ld isab i li ty be ing inv isib le v ic t ims o f sexua l assau l t. In creas ing soc ie ta l awareness ofsexua l assau l t is now resu l t ing in an e xam ina t io n of the spec i f ic p roblem s fac ingpeo ple who are in te l lec tua l ly d i sab led a nd expe r ience sexua l assau lt . Curren t ly,sys tems des igned to ass is t the m or en force the i r r igh ts a re fa i ling . Rese arch of theres ident ia l , po l ice an d lega l sys tems in N SW an d V ic tor ia h igh l igh t some of theways in which people wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i l i ty a re d i senf ranchised andtherefore mo re vu lnera b le to sexua l assau l t. Th e n ext s tep i s to use th i s know ledge tom ake sure peo ple wi th an in te l lec tua l d i sab i li ty rece ive pro m pt an d sym pathe t icredress i f they a re sex ua l ly assau lted .

Re fe rences

A llan R oe he r Insti tute (1988).Vulnerable."SexualAbuse an d People with an IntellectualHandicap. C a n a d a : A u t h o r.

Aiel lo , D. (1986) . Issues and concerns confront ing disabled assaul t vict ims. Sex-uality and Disability,7, 96-10 1.

Au s t ra l ian B ureau o f S ta ti s ti cs 1988 ,Disabled and Aged Persons,C a n b e r r a :Au tho r.

Be rkm an, A. , (1986) . Profess ion a l respons ib i li ty : conf ron t ing sexua l abuse of per-

sons with disabili t ies ' ,Sexuality an d Disability, 7,89-95.Brennan , M. & Brennan , R .E . (1988) .Strange Language: chiM victims under crossexamination,Rive r ina M ur ray In s t it u te o f H igh e r Educa t ion .

C arm od y, M. (1990a).Sex ual Assault of People with an Intellectual D isab ility- D iscus-sion Paper.S y d n ey : N S W W o m e n ' s C o - o r d i n a ti o n U n i t.

Carmody, M. (1990b) .Sex ual Assault o f People with an Intellectual Disability - Fin alReport.S y d n e y: N S W W o m e n ' s C o - o r d i n a t i o n U n it .

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Biograp hica l D eta il s .

M oi ra Ca rm ody is a soci a l worke r who has w orked with bo th peop le w i th a nin te llec tua l d i sab il i ty an d v ic tims of sexua l assau l t. Fr om 1983 she spec ia li sed in thearea of sexual assaul t , working in vict ims services , t ra ining an d from 1986-1989 shewas t he s t a te Co -o rd ina to r o f Sexua l Assau lt Se rv ice s fo r the N SW De pa r tm en t o fHeal th . S ince then she has w orked pr iva te ly as a po l icy adviser and edu ca tor on sex-ua l a s sau l t work ing with a r ange o f agenci es , gove rn me n t depa r tmen t s i n NSW ,other Aus t ra l ian s ta tes and New Zea land . Curren t ly, she i s t each ing wel fa res tuden t s an d unde r t ak ing r e sea rch a t t he U n ive rs i ty o f N SW fo r a doc to ra l deg reeon the i ssue o f r ape i n NS W.

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carmody 1991 invisible victims sexual assault of people with a disability

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