Access to justice for people with disabilities as victims of crime in Ireland

Abstract

International literature recognises that people with disabilities are at greater risk of crime than their able-bodied counterparts, but that crime against people with disabilities is significantly under-reported and often fails to proceed to prosecution. However, little is known in the Irish context about how the criminal justice system responds to the needs of people with disabilities as victims of crime. This study aims to: Explore the barriers that people with disabilities who report a crime face in accessing the criminal justice system in Ireland and internationally; Compare the legislative tools and frameworks across different jurisdictions which seek to protect the rights of people with disabilities who report crime and abuse; Analyse the specific policies and practices that agencies of the criminal justice system have in place to facilitate people with disabilities’ access to justice; Explore national and international innovations which may contribute to strengthening the way in which the Irish criminal justice system responds to the needs of people with disabilities. The study addresses these aims through an international literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with key agencies in the Irish criminal justice system.