When 
Worlds Collide: 
Mandatory 
Reporting 
and 
Confidentiality for 
Survivors with 
Disabilities 


Serving 
Survivors 
with 
Disabilities 
and 
Deaf 
Survivors: 
Practical 
Guidance 
and 
Information 
for 
Advocates 
and 
Others 
Working 
to 
End 
Sexual 
and 
Domestic 
Violence 


January 
17, 
2012 


Sandra 
Harrell, 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice 




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AttheintersectionofviolenceanddisabilityMandatoryMandatoryReportingConfidentialityAttheintersectionofviolenceanddisabilityMandaoryMandatoryReportingConfidentiality
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>Deterrent 
to 
seeking 
help 
>Risk 
of 
retaliation 
>Limited 
response 
to 
reports 
>Inconsistent 
reporting 
protocols 
across 


>Inconsistent 
reporting 
protocols 
across 
organizations 
>Increased 
isolation 
>Decreased 
independence 
and 
autonomy 
>Loss 
of 
trust 



Slide 
10 
January 
17, 
2012 



> 
Promotes 
early 
identification 
of 
vulnerable 
adults 
> 
Breaks 
isolation 
> 
Creates 
an 
opportunity 
to 
increase 
offender 
accountability 
> 
Provides 
victims 
with 
information 
about 
safety 
planning, 
legal 


and 
community 
services 


> 
Provides 
victims 
with 
local/state 
advocacy 
services 


> 
Provides 
a 
‘continuum 
of 
care’ 
for 
victims 
in 
coordination 
with 


other 
agencies 
and 
enhances 
effectiveness 
of 
interventions. 


> 
Creates 
documentation 
of 
the 
maltreatment 
that 
may 
be 
critical 
to 
criminal 
or 
civil 
legal 
action 



Slide 
11 
January 
17, 
2012 



>Learn 
your 
reporting 
requirements 
in 
your 
state 


>Mandatory 
reporting 
laws 
can 
trump 
privilege 


>Mandatory 
reporting 
requirements 
suggest 
need 
to 
build 
strong 
relationships 
with 
your 
local 
APS 
d 
di 
bili 
id 


APS 
and 
disability 
providers 


>Once 
you 
understand 
your 
reporting 
requirements, 
be 
transparent 
with 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 



Slide 
12 
January 
17, 
2012 



>www.accessingsafety.org 
>www.rainn.org 
>www.apsnetwork.org 
>http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org 


>http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org 


>Reporting 
Requirements 
by 
State 


>http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/agi 
ng/docs/MandatoryReportingProvisionsChart.authcheckda 
m.pdf 



Slide 
13 
January 
17, 
2012 



Sandra 
Harrell 
Director, 
Accessing 
Safety 
Initiative 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice 


sharrell@vera.org 



Slide 
15 
January 
17, 
2012