Studies indicate that people with disabilities are at a higher risk of criminal victimization than those without disabilities. The Worcester District Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that crimes against persons with disabilities are thoroughly investigated and when possible, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These cases are handled by Assistant District Attorneys and Victim Witness Advocates who are specially trained to respond to these crimes. The office has partnered with the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Mental Health, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and local police departments so these cases are investigated in a timely manner to prevent further abuse and hold perpetrators accountable.
In some cases, a crime may be investigated using a multidisciplinary team. The team consists of caseworkers, police officers, Assistant District Attorneys, Victim Witness Advocates and an interview specialist. The team’s overall goal is to complete the investigation in a sensitive, timely and professional manner and to reduce the number of times the victim is interviewed.