Crime Victims With Disabilities Awareness Act
PL 105-301 (S.1976), enacted 10/27/1998

112 STAT. 2838 
PUBLIC LAW 105-301—OCT. 27, 1998 
Public Law 105-301 
105th Congress 
An Act 
To increase public awareness of the plight of victims of crime with developmental 
Oct. 27, 1998 
disabilities, to collect data to measure the magnitude of the problem, and to 
[g 1976] 
develop strategies to address the safety and justice needs of victims of crime 
with developmental disabilities. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Crime Victims 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
With Disabilities 
Awareness Act. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
note. 
This Act may be cited as the "Crime Victims With Disabilities 
Awareness Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) although research conducted abroad demonstrates that 
individuals with developmental disabilities are at a 4 to 10 
times higher risk of becoming crime victims than those without 
disabilities, there have been no significant studies on this sub-
ject conducted in the United States; 
(2) in fact, the National Crime Victim's Survey, conducted 
annually by the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department 
of Justice, does not specifically collect data relating to crimes 
against individuals with developmental disabilities; 
(3) studies in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain consist-
ently show that victims with developmental disabilities suffer 
repeated victimization because so few of the crimes against 
them are reported, and even when they are, there is sometimes 
a reluctance by police, prosecutors, and judges to rely on the 
testimony of a disabled individual, making individuals with 
developmental disabilities a target for criminal predators; 
(4) research in the United States needs to be done to— 
(A) understand the nature and extent of crimes against 
individuals with developmental disabilities; 
(B) describe the manner in which the justice system 
responds to crimes against individuals with developmental 
disabilities; and 
(C) identify programs, policies, or laws that hold prom-
ises for making the justice system more responsive to 
crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; 
and 
(5) the National Academy of Science Committee on Law 
and Justice of the National Research Council is a premier 
research institution with unique experience in developing semi-
nal, multidisciplinary studies to establish a strong research 
base from which to make public policy. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-301—OCT. 27, 1998 
112 STAT. 2839 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to increase pubHc awareness of the plight of victims 
of crime who are individuals with developmental disabilities; 
(2) to collect data to measure the extent of the problem 
of crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; 
and 
(3) to develop a basis to find new strategies to address 
the safety and justice needs of victims of crime who are individ-
uals with developmental disabilities. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY. 
In this Act, the term "developmental disability" has the mean-
ing given the term in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6001). 
SEC. 4. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Attorney General shall conduct a study 
to increase knowledge and information about crimes against individ-
uals with developmental disabilities that will be useful in developing 
new strategies to reduce the incidence of crimes against those 
individuals. 
(b) ISSUES ADDRESSED.—^The study conducted under this section 
shall address such issues as— 
(1) the nature and extent of crimes against individuals 
with developmental disabilities; 
(2) the risk factors associated with victimization of individ-
uals with developmental disabilities; 
(3) the manner in which the justice system responds to 
crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; and 
(4) the means by which States may establish and maintain 
a centralized computer database on the incidence of crimes 
against individueds with disabilities within a State. 
(c) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—In carrying out this Contracts, 
section, the Attorney General shall consider contracting with the 
Committee on Law and Justice of the National Research Council 
of the National Academy of Sciences to provide research for the 
study conducted under this section. 
(d) REPORT.—^Not later than 18 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to the Commit-
tees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report describing the results of the study conducted under this 
section. 
112 STAT. 2840 
PUBLIC LAW 105-301—OCT. 27, 1998 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM'S SURVEY. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, as part of each National Crime Victim's Survey, the Attorney 
General shall include statistics relating to— 
(1) the nature of crimes against individuals with develop-
mental disabilities; and 
(2) the specific characteristics of the victims of those crimes. 
Approved October 27, 1998. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY-5. 1976: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998): 
July 13, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 7, considered and passed House.