VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: THE “DARK NUMBER” OF CRIME

Abstract

People with disabilities are a particularly vulnerable to victimization by violence. This risk increases due to their dependence on other family members. This negative phenomenon has to be observed not only from the criminological perspective but also from the sociological perspective because violence does not happen outside the society. In this paper, the authors will indicate the “dark number” of crime of violence against people with disabilities, with specific reference to violence against people with mental disabilities in residential institutions. The aim of this paper is to point out to possible social responses to violence against people with disabilities.