An audit of investigations into allegations of abuse involving adults with intellectual disability.
Abuse investigations involving adults with ID rarely resolve through criminal courts—plan for alternative safeguarding pathways.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The authors looked at real abuse investigations involving adults with intellectual disability.
They traced each case to see where it got stuck and why it rarely reached court.
What they found
Most reports died in the system.
Police dropped cases because witnesses with ID were seen as unreliable.
Files closed without charges or protective action.
How this fits with other research
Willner (2008) shows one fix: swap free-recall questions for yes/no recognition prompts.
That simple change cut measured suggestibility in half for adults with ID.
Together the papers tell a two-part story: investigations fail when officers use standard interviews, but better questions can preserve testimony.
Rojahn et al. (1994) add a warning—when tools are weak, raters rarely agree.
They found the Motivation Assessment Scale had near-zero reliability for aggressive behavior, underlining the need for sound methods before evidence is dismissed.
Why it matters
You can’t assume the justice route will protect your client.
When abuse is reported, ask police to use recognition-memory prompts or provide a communication advocate.
Document behavior with reliable tools like the QABF so your data can back the person’s story if the case proceeds.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: The present paper describes the results of an audit of referrals to a psychology service requesting specialist assistance in the investigation of allegations of abuse. METHODS: The referrals were over a 2-year period and case notes and records were reviewed to analyse the nature of the allegation, the characteristics of the victims or perpetrators, and the process of the investigation and its outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-six people were referred for investigation into allegations of sexual or physical abuse. The referrals were for assistance with an investigative interview (n = 12), capacity to give consent to a sexual relationship (n = 8) and competence to give evidence in court (n = 6). The referrals were all in relation to adults, covering a range of ages and degrees of intellectual disability. CONCLUSIONS: The process of the investigations suggested that a number of barriers still exist which can make decision-making in relation to the alleged abuse extremely difficult. Resolution of the allegations through the criminal justice system was also problematic.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2003 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00479.x