Case Study Support Services for Victims with Disabilities

Bizchut, the Israeli Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, has worked extensively to advocate on access to justice for persons with disabilities. One component of this advocacy effort addresses the lack of formal support services for persons with disabilities who are the victims of crime. The organization is working to provide in-person support services and has developed the following methods:

1. Accompanying the victim to the police station;
2. Talking with the police to help them understand the nature of the victim’s disability;
3. Making suggestions for modifications to the usual procedures that could be made in order to help the investigation;
4. Being present with a crime victim with a disability during police questioning, if desired by the victim;
5. Accompanying a crime victim with a disability to the courthouse prior to any official meetings there, in order to prepare them for the courtroom environment, and helping him or her understand what procedures will occur and easing their concerns about these procedures;
6. Accompanying the victim during court proceedings; and
7. Requesting the court to make modifications to the testimony procedures, where appropriate, and with the victim’s permission. For example, moving proceedings to the judge’s chambers or other environment less intimidating than the courtroom or bringing in an expert to help court officials understand the victim’s disability and its possible impact on the testimony.