Crime and the Disabled

By Roy Day Jr

Master Roy Day has addressed this subject with a comprehensive, encyclopedic approach in Crime and the Disabled. This book covers personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense for the walking, rolling, and institutionalized disabled. It presents to the public the martial art RoPo Kenpo, the martial art used in the We Defend System of Self Defense.
Crime and the Disabled is an absolute Must Read if you have a loved one in an institution, or you are in an institution, or are active disabled.
In the sister book the We Defend System of Self-Defense Manual the system revealed in Crime and the Disabled is shown in an easy to use manual. It demonstrates in large easy to follow photos how to take the hand of an attacker and through joint manipulation bring them to submission or break their wrist. Learn how to defend against a punch and how to attack the eyes to blind or the throat for a knockout or lethality. Learn to take away a knife or a gun.
Master Day offers sound advice to large segments of the disabled community and their loved ones on how to live a safer life. He offers a self-defense art for those in chairs and techniques for those using canes, crutches, and electric chairs, and strategies for those with loved ones in institutions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781387537792

Book preview

CRIME

AND THE

DISABLED

By Master Roy Day

Presenting

The We Defend System

The First Complete and Comprehensive System

of Personal Safety,

Crime Prevention and Self-defense

For

The Walking Disabled

Those using Manual and Electric Wheelchairs

The Severely Disabled and their Loved Ones

Copyright 2014

Background pattern Description automatically generated with low confidence

Adapted from Ropo Kenpo - 

Wheelchair American Kenpo

As Developed by Master Robert Quinn and Master Roy Day

Foreword

WARNING! Because the disabled are at an enormous disadvantage in a criminal attack this book contains extremely dangerous defensive techniques that can maim or kill. If you are a parent or hospital administrator you should not allow children, unstable adolescents, and anyone you would not trust to handle a weapon to read this book or see the photographs. Do not let your kids see or imitate these techniques; they may blind or maim each other if you do.

This book was written under Master Robert Quinn’s guidance, so the pronoun we is often used. He suggested an informal conversational approach, as though I’m speaking to you at our seminar. Instead of using footnotes in a traditional academic style and having an index at the end of the book, we are trying a computer age user-friendly approach. The Table of Contents, Table of Photos, and our "What If?" section is detailed enough to allow the reader to find any subject or technique covered in this book. At the end of every chapter is a list of the relevant E sources; and there is a standard bibliography at the book’s end. These end-of-the-chapter E Sources allow the interested reader to immediately get on the internet, delve into greater depth, and get the latest information. Those books which I do mention by name in any chapter were used as a primary and respected source on that subject matter.

Although Kenpo is a 1,500 years old martial art directly traceable back to the Shaolin Temples, our Ropo Kenpo and the We Defend System of personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense for the walking, rolling, and severely disabled are new systems and still evolving. In a perfect world I would have a black belt in several martial arts, be a veteran of Seal Team 6, a police officer of twenty years, would have developed a complete system of ground fighting for the disabled, and I’d look like Brad Pitt. However, with our imperfect world and crime statistics as terrible as they are; this book needed to be published without delay. What flaws or mistakes this material may contain are my responsibility and I posit the idea that any mistakes can be corrected in future editions. I am always looking for new techniques, ways to improve existing techniques, and am open to a wide variety of martial arts. I hope there will be many future editions and each will be an improvement upon the last.

Unlike many experts in able-bodied self-defense with backgrounds in law enforcement, I landed in a wheelchair three months after turning eighteen, and never seriously considered a career in law enforcement. I philosophically disagreed with our war on drugs policy. Having the highest incarceration rate in the world by basically declaring war on large segments of your own citizenry never seemed like the correct approach; I prefer a healthcare and non-penal solution for non-violent substance abuse problems. Despite my lack of a police or military background, for the last fourteen years as an angry disabled victim of multiple crimes; I have studied martial arts, teamed up with a Master who had those years of police experience, done research, and nurtured this project to completion. As a disabled Black Belt what I bring to the table is decades of experience in a wheelchair, both as a victim of crime and as a successful self-defender. My wheelchair common sense was a small contribution combined with Master Quinn’s background in law enforcement which was enormously significant and critical to the development of every aspect of the We Defend System.

National Geographic’s Nat Geo TV channel features a program called Fight Science. One episode explored the science behind self-defense - what do the foremost experts teach, and what are the testable effects of these techniques? Their experts included an ex-Seal Team member, a policeman for 30 years, and a policewoman for 20 years who specializes in rape prevention. Taking into account that every teacher has an individual style and technique preferences, the scientific testing was a complete validation of the techniques and targets presented in this book. We encourage you if to watch the episode if possible.

Advanced martial artists will notice the repetitive use of a few key techniques and no emphasis on offering a large variety of options. This is because options and choices can cause some in life or death situations to pause for a moment of decision when they can least afford it. We teach immediate reactions that if not instantly overwhelming will flow into another technique. One of the greatest martial artists of the 20th century, Bruce Lee said he had no fear of a man who practiced 10,000 techniques. He feared the man who had practiced one technique 10,000 times. 

Acknowledgements

First and foremost Master Robert Quinn helped me every step of the way, teaching me and guiding me, lending me books, directing my research. Although this project was fully conceptualized when I first met the man who became my Sifu; Master Quinn’s experience as a police officer and his wisdom and knowledge as a martial arts master influenced every aspect of the We Defend System. The mixing of American Kenpo and Modern Arnis in Ropo (wheelchair) Kenpo is a direct result of Master Quinn’s guidance. My Sifu’s Sifu, the late Grandmaster Remy Presas knew about this project and gave it his blessing. I am thankful for every second spent in the presence of both great martial arts masters. Although Master Quinn read and approved this manuscript; he passed tragically before the compilation of the last set of photos and subsequent publication. Words cannot express the grief and loss felt by myself and so many others. He was immediately recognized and honored in Kenpo and Arnis dojos around the world. His wife, Sang Le continues running the school and we are fortunate that son Kahn is grown and continues Master Quinn’s legacy in both the techniques themselves and the way they are taught.

Other people helped greatly on this project. All of the initial photography was done by or with the help of black belt instructor Merle Hamburger who also passed after a long and courageous fight for health in which he beat the odds for several years.

The beautiful model in the photographs is my niece Alexandra Day. The people attacking Alexandra and myself were all members of our dojo, American Karate in Tucker, Georgia. The attackers were Darryl Blackwell, Deputy and Master Chip Pike, Pat Cooney, Franklin Garcia, and my nephew Patrick Day. My thanks go out to all in my family and dojo who volunteered to work on this project. My sister-in-law Lindy came up with the name We Defend, many thanks. My publishing/production team consists of the daughter of my closest friends’ and her associate - Helen Manget and Ishmael Hertado, both of whom also doubled as models. Helen, Alexandra, and my sister Marguerite contributed to creating the logos and the book cover. My friend Karen Cagle handled the final reading/editing

I would also like to thank my father, my cousin Emmel, and my brother Stephen for their financial support of this project as well as their help and assistance throughout the long hard Mayo Clinic years during which I first seriously researched this project. There were many challenges to overcome and the support from my family was unwavering. I am lucky to have friends who are like family and family who are like friends and my thanks and appreciation goes out to each and every one. To Tom, Deb, and all my friends I want to express my appreciation and thanks as well as to the many members of the Day/Mundy/Woolbright/Fitzgerald clans, the Manget/Stewart families, and the California Barbees.

Dedication

In a general way everything I write is for my family and friends, for my late brother, my recently passed mother, and this beautiful planet, our Mother Earth. However, this book is dedicated to my Sifu, Master Robert Quinn, and to his student and valued instructor Merle Hamburger.

…

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From the Left: Darryl Blackwell, Master Roy Day, Master Robert Quinn, and Dr. Merle Hamburger. Among Master Quinn’s many awards are:  Master Instructor of the Year for 1997, 1999, and 2006 by three different martial arts organizations, listed in the 2001 Who’s Who Historical Society, He was selected to the 2009 Battle of Atlanta Hall of Fame, and was named 2006 Master of the Year, and to the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 20011. Dr. Merle Hamburger was respected and loved by his own family, his scout family, his church family, his Karate family, and his by his co-workers at CDC.

Special Acknowledgement

Although this book is entitled Crime and the Disabled and we statistically deal with all disabilities, this book is primarily written for those with ambulatory disabilities, the severely disabled and loved ones, and the practitioners of rehabilitation medicine. We began with what is known and familiar. I did my rehab at Craig in Colorado and was given the privilege of serving as a member of the founding board for the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Thanks to James, Alana, and Harold Shepherd and all who contribute to the practice of rehabilitation medicine at the highest standard. Special thanks go to Dr. Don Leslie, Medical Director of the Shepherd Center who encouraged this project every step of the way and CEO and President Gary Ulicny who gave me the chance to establish, improve, and refine the prototype program in a top Model Rehabilitation facility.

The Ropo Kenpo/WeDefend Vocabulary List

Almost all sciences and arts have a vocabulary with specific meanings within that field. To make teaching and learning easier and simpler, the following terms are capitalized and used with specific purpose as proper nouns in Ropo Kenpo and in the WeDefend System; in contrast to their normal usage. Some are defined below; others are defined in the text or illustrated by photo.

AB – the able-bodied segment of the population

Active/independent disabled – disabled who live, study, work, and reside among AB, who are not dependent on nor require the presence of a caregiver

The AFB Counterattack - The Attack From Behind Counterattack

Black Belt – a person who has obtained the rank of black belt

Block – to redirect by few inched the punch, grab, or kick and then use the attacker’s own momentum against them

Block and Hook – to redirect an attack and take hold of the attacking appendage

Block-Hook-Strike-Book – Block and Hook, then counterattack, go somewhere safe, call 911.

Chamber – to Pull the hand back towards the shoulder to generate maximum force hitting

Defcom A, B, and C – the three levels of threat and their corresponding levels of defensive commitment

Elbow-led Hammerfist

Eye Strike

F-S-P-S – Feint Surrender Protective Stance

Half-Fist

Hammerfist

Hammerlock

Hook

Knife Hand

Look and Book

Master – a martial artist who has achieved a certain level of proficiency in  a martial art, usually at least a third degree black belt ranking

Major Crimes

Practice Partner

Pull – to misdirect, take hold of and jerk downward any offensive appendage

One-Hand Block-Hook

Residential/dependent disabled – disabled who reside in an institution or adapted home who are dependent on the full-time presence of a care-giver

Start/Finish Counterattack

Throat Strike

Tiger Claw - Horizontal Tiger Claw and Vertical Tiger Claw

Two-Hand Bock-Hook

Sleeper Hold

Soft Target

Strike – to attack with a hit, kick, push, or grab, or to counterattack with striking or grappling techniques

WPS – Wheelchair Protective Stance

Table of Contents

Chapter One - Crime and the Disabled

An Introduction

My Story

An Attempted Burglary

FBI Hate Crime Statistics

Chapter Two – This is Horrible! Can These Numbers Be Right?

The Three Myths about the Disabled

The Rights of Disabled Crime Victims

The Work of Daniel Sorensen

The Solutions

Chapter 3 -The Human Factor

LOOK, FEEL, SPY

Red Flags for Caregivers

Ten principles for Programs to prevent Abuse

The 7 Steps to Take if You Discover Abuse

Victim Services

Chapter 4 - Crime Prevention and Personal Safety

The Latest Statistics

The Five Rings of Personal Safety – Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit

The Ring of Earth

Your Home

Apartment and Condo Security

Campus Safety List

Chapter Five - Automobile Safety

The What - or the Five Rules - of Car Safety

Minimum Safety Kit/Maximum Safety Kit

The How of Car Safety

Car Safety Basics (List A)

Carjacking

Parking and Parking Lots

Common Criminal Car Ploys The Disabled Car Ruse

Road Rage and Fake Police

Car Safety Basics: List B

Chapter Six – Personal Safety Out In the World

Violence on the Job and Violence against Women

The Warning signs of the potential intimate killer

Rape in America

Categories of Rapists

Rape Prevention

Establishing Boundaries and Sexual Harassment

Stalking

The Red Flags for Intimate Stalking

The Simple Obsession Stalker

The Love Obsession Stalker

Workplace Robbery

The Homeland Security Emergency Kit

Daylight Evacuation Plan

Chapter Seven - Surviving Terror

Surviving a Terrorist Attack

The FBI/LACHD Terrorist Attack Protocols

US State Department Hijacking/Hostage Situation Suggestions

Surviving the Individual Terror Event at School or College

The Genovese Syndrome, diffusion of responsibility, the bystander effect

School Shooting Red Flags

The Four Types of Workplace Violence

The Red Flags of Workplace Violence

Chapter Eight – The Safety Rings of Air, Water, Fire

The Ring of Air

Internal and External Safety

Safety as You Party

Safety on Vacation

Precautions to Avoid Terror Events While Traveling

The Ring of Water

The Ring of Fire

Using the Voice with the Protective Stance

The Able-Bodied and Wheelchair Protective Stance

Chapter Nine – Using Layers of Self-Defense

Sound Defense - Whistles, Horns, Alarms

Key Chains and Molded Plastic Devices for Self-Defense

Pepper Spray

Stun Guns

Tasers

Batons, Expanding Batons, Stun Batons,

Expanding Stun Batons, and Stun Canes

Knives for Self-Defense

Guns

Chapter Ten – Defending your Self

The 7 Basic B’s of the We Defend Self-defense System

Self-Defense and the Law

The Lineage of Ropo Kenpo

Ropo Electric and the Six Layers of Power Chair Defense

Manual Wheelchair Users with Hand/Wrist/Arm Impairments

Ropo on Canes and Crutches

The Philosophy and Techniques of Ropo Kenpo and

the We Defend Self-defense System

The Strategy for Surviving a Criminal Assault - the 7 ‘B’s"

The 33 Basic Concepts and Techniques of Ropo Kenpo

and the We Defend System

Photos

Photo Set 1: How to Block and Hook (and Pull)

Two-hand Block-Hook-Strike A, B, and C

One-hand Block – Hook (and Pull) A 1, and 2

Left One-Hand Block-Hook B 1, 2

Right One-Hand Block-Hook C - 1 and 2

Photo Set 2 - How to Strike your Attacker and Avoid Injury, 1

Breaking the attacker’s collar bone Knife Hand 3 – 5

Knife Hand to the side of Throat Strike in non-lethal situation

The Start/Finish Knife Hand Counterattack 1 – 13

The Start/Finish Knife Hand Counterattack from a Different Perspective

Photo Set 3: How to Strike your Attacker and Avoid Injury, 2 - the Throat

Vehicle Surprise Attack/Knife Hand Counterattack 1 – 5

Tiger Claw Neck Rip/Hold 1 – 5

Surprise Attack/Half-Fist/Tiger Claw Counterattack 1-14

Wheelchair Protective Stance, Spraying Pepper Spray

The Feint Surrender Protective Stance

Photo Set 4: How to Strike Your Attacker and Avoid Injury, 3 – Counterattacking the Eyes

All-finger Eye Strike and Snake Fangs Eye Strike

Thumb and Two Finger Eye Strikes

Tiger Claw Eye Strike                Crane Eye Strike

Eye Flick 1 and 2

Non-lethal Defense - Eye flicks to Hammerlock to Sleeper Hold

Thumb Eye Strike 2, 3, 4, and 5

Crane Eye Strike 2 and 3

Two Finger Eye Strike

Direct Attack, Two Finger Counterattack 1 – 16

Vertical Tiger Claw – 1, 2, 3

Photo Set 5– Blocking and Shielding during the Counterattack

Blocked Knife Hand – Hammer/Sleep Scenario

Photo Set 6 – The Seven Targets and How Best to Strike them

Groin Counterattack 1 - 5

Solar Plexus Counterattack 1 - 6

Collar bone Strike 1

Collar bone counterattack 2 – 4

Sleeper Hold A  1 – 19

Sleeper Hold B 1 – 9

Sleeper Hold C 1 – 12

Sleeper Hold D 1 – 11

Two-hand Block-Hook/Pull

Counterattacking the Chin

Palm heel Counterattack 3 and 4

Palm Heel Counterattack 1- 6

Hammerfist to Temple 1 and 2

Hammerfist 5 to Temple

Photo Set 7: Basic Grappling Defense if Grabbed or Choked

Defending against a rear choke/finger holds counterattack 1-7

Defending

Defending against rear shoulder grab or choke/to Hammerlock 1-5

Defending against a front choke A: thumb counterattack 1 - 6

Defending against a front choke B: Thumb to Sleeper Hold

Defending against a front shoulder grab: A 1 – 5

Defending against a front shoulder grab: B

Defending against a front shoulder grab: C

Reversing a wrist/forearm grab: A.

Reversing a wrist/forearm grab: B

Defending against an overhand forearm grab

Defending Against an Underhand Forearm Grab

Wheelchair Protective Stance, Spraying Pepper Spray

The Feint Surrender Protective Stance

Photo Set 8 – Master Quinn’s Cell Phone Defense and

the AFB Counterattack - Defending Against Attacks from Behind

Cell Phone Counterattack 1 – 6

Hammerfist Phone 1 – 9

Counterattacking AFB Targets

Crotch and Solar Plexus

Throat 1 - 4

Elbow to Chin and Temples 1 - 4

Elbow-led Counterattacks 1 – 5 and 6 – 9

Criminal Surprise Attack Entering Vehicle 1 – 7

Hammerfist to Tiger Claw 1 – 4

The Defender used in the Wheelchair Protective Stance 1 – 3

The Defender at Defcom A: 4 – 10

The WPS – the Wheelchair Protective Stance

Using Wrist Band and Key Chain Pepper Spray 1 – 6

WPS with Wooden Baton 1 – 3

WPS with Telescoping Metal Baton

WPS with Telescoping Electric Stun Baton 1 – 3

Discharging 10 inch and Telescoping stun batons

Photo Set 9: Disarming Knife 1 – 7

Tactical Use of Spin Hits and Circle Spin Hits 1 - 10

Crutch Counterattack A 1 – 7

Crutch Counterattack B 1 – 3

Crutch Counterattack C 1 – 10

Cane Counterattack 1 – 12

Surprise Attack/Cane User - Defender Self-defense  1 – 10

FSPS Counterattack A – 1 – 22

..

What Do You Do If…? What if…?

What If? You Suspect Abuse? What if you have proof?

What If? Someone breaks in while you’re gone?

What if? Someone breaks into your home while you are there?

What If? You fear sexual assualt?

What If?  You are attacked and raped?

What If? Someone tells you they have been raped?

What If? Someone is obsessed with you or is actively stalking you?

What If? You choose to move and go incognito?

Chapter One - Crime and the Disabled

An Introduction

At this moment in the United States there is a terrible, almost unimaginable crime wave victimizing the disabled; yet to all but a few specialists in this field, this problem is totally unrecognized and unknown. Not only to the media and the average Jane and John Doe on the street; but it is unknown to most of the educators in this field, to most of those who work with the disabled and to most disabled people as well. One of the primary reasons for this is the number of arrests and prosecutions are disproportionably small to the amount of crime. But every time this population is surveyed in a safe setting, in blind surveys, in all surveys the results are the same. In the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia the results are always the same. According to the US Department of Justice, the disabled in the general public are the victims of serious violent and sexual crime at a rate that is consistently doubled or tripled that of the able bodied, and for the institutionalized disabled the rate of serious crime is four to ten times higher. Not three or four percent more crime, three or four times more serious violent and sexual crime, up to 10 times the crime rate of the AB. This has been known in some circles for over a decade yet remains a societal secret.

This book is written for several target audiences to achieve one purpose. The target audiences are the disabled, their loved ones, those that teach rehabilitation medicine, and the doctors, therapists, nurses, and care givers who practice it. The purpose is to raise awareness of the problem of crime against the disabled, and to seriously impact and greatly reduce this horrific crime rate through education, training, and direct action. Our target goal is to reduce the rate of crime against the disabled to a level equivalent to that of the able-bodied. In a society with our beliefs and ideals, is this not a reasonable and achievable goal? Everyone involved with the disabled community, and all within the disabled community must be made aware of this problem, must be informed what part they can play in the solution, and effectively challenged to take positive action.

The original idea was a book to teach those who live actively in wheelchairs a philosophy and practice of personal safety and crime prevention, supported by a simple and extremely effective system of self-defense. When research revealed the enormity of the problem of crime against the disabled everything changed. That initial idea was expanded to include strategies and techniques for the walking disabled using canes and crutches; for those using electric wheelchairs; and for the severely physically disabled; the severely developmentally/ cognitively/acquired brain injury disabled; and those with two, three, or more serious disabilities – the multiply disabled - who are often communication challenged; and their concerned loved ones. (For convenience and brevity the severely physically, developmentally, and multiply disabled will be grouped and abbreviated as the S-D-M disabled with the D standing for all with severe developmental/cognitive/ABI disabilities.) The revised project resulted in this book and the We Defend System of personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense for the walking, rolling, and severely disabled and their loved ones. As far as we have been able to determine this is the first and only comprehensive system of personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense for those with mobility disabilities and the S-D-M disabled. This system can also be adapted for the hearing and visually disabled if those communities feel it could positively augment what is presently available to them. We implore all of our readers to join us as we work to significantly reduce the obscenely high rate of crime against the disabled as it occurs in both its’ major manifestations.

After fourteen years of research and martial arts training and decades in a wheelchair including several tremendously intense experiences as the target of criminals; I made an observation that has led me to five conclusions about crime and the disabled. The observation came about from my years coaching some severely disabled electric wheelchair Power Soccer players. I came to realize that although I used a wheelchair and my players used electric wheelchair and we were both among the rolling disabled, my lifestyle was much more similar to the able-bodied parents of my severely disabled players than it was to my players.

After considering and reviewing my observation I went and asked a variety of disabled people, some parents of disabled kids, doctors, professors, PA’s, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, and PCA’s and they all agreed with my basic premise. The lifestyle of the active/independent disabled – the walking disabled and active wheelchair user who functions independently without the aid of a caregiver is much more similar to their able-bodied neighbors than it is to the residential disabled - the severely disabled - the S-D-M disabled - living in institutions or adapted homes; dependent on the continual presence and ministrations of a caregiver. Because these residential/caregiver-dependent severely disabled and the active/caregiver-independent disabled have such different lifestyles and their residence patterns are so radically different, the types of crime they face are different as well. Once I understood this it led me to the five following conclusions:

The disabled can be divided into two broad and inclusive categories based on residence patterns and the necessity or lack of necessity for continual care. There are the Residential/dependent Disabled - the S-D-M disabled, the severely physicallydisabled, the severely developmentally/cognitively/ABIdisabled and the severely multiply disabled - who are residing in hospitals, residential institutions, or adapted residences and are dependent – they require the presence and help of a caregiver. The Active/independent Disabled study, work, and live among the able-bodied general population and are independent - do not require a caregiver.

These two populations face different types of crime due to patterns of criminal access. The S-D-M disabled - the severely physically disabled, the severely developmentally/cognitively/ABI disabled, and the severely multiply disabled, make up the population of the Residential/dependent disabled. They often become victims of sexual abuse and physical abuse by predators who behave much like pedophiles and gain access through the health care system. The other abusers gain access by being family, or are relatives, neighbors, or friends who have access.

The Active/independentdisabled study, work, and live among the general population yet are the Soft Target victims of Major Crimes at an alarmingly higher rate than their AB neighbors. We don’t mean higher by a percentage point or two, we mean double to triple the crime rate of their next door AB neighbor. The disabled are obvious in public, they stand out in a crowd, and they represent a lesser retaliatory threat to the criminal.

The two groups of disabled, Residential/dependent and Active/independent, can be matched with the primary types of crime they fall victim to. The Residential/caregiver dependent disabled are primarily victims of sexual/physical abuse; the Active/independent disabled are primarily the Soft Targets of Major Crimes. By combining the category of disability, Residential or Active, or with the type of crime they face, sexual/physical abuse or Major Crimes, you have the two major manifestations of crime against the disabled and the two primary types of disabled victims of crime. An obvious combinations of first letters gives us a name for the two types of crime against the  disabled and the two types of disabled victims of crime

Type RS – Residential/Sexual - the Residential/dependent - (in some studies this population is referred to as the institutional disabled) – the severely physically, developmentally, or multiply disabled who are dependent on continual care - are victims of sexual abuse/physical abuse in their residential settings

Type AM – Active/Major - the Active/independent disabled who live among the able-bodied – are preferred Soft Targets for Major Crimes

Although the two categories of the disabled live different lifestyles, face different types of crime, and face a different type of criminal; there is one common criminal element - sadistic behavior. Even though it is not always present in either type of crime; sadism is a consistent element in a yet to be established percentage of both categories. Often this is extremely sadistic behave r.

These categories of Type RS and Type AM can be used to classify and refer to both the type of crime and the type of victim in a substantial amount of all serious crime against the disabled. These categories could provide a research tool for those in this field to gain greater statistical clarity in their studies. They definitely can provide law enforcement with a quick and easy analytical tool to understand and classify a crime or describe a victim. If they report the code for a Type RS crime, HQ would know they have a severely disabled dependent victim in an institution or adapted residence who has been sexually or physically abused. If it is a Type AM crime, you know the victim is an Active/independent disabled person who has been the victim of a major crime.

In any attempt at statistical clarity there are always exceptions and crossovers. There are some who are severely disabled, employed, and take their PCA with them to work. If a severely disabled person goes to work each day; that employment would seem to place them in the active group, yet if constantly accompanied by a PCA, does that change their status as a Soft Target? Further research must establish the amount of working S-D-M disabled and whether to place them with the residential/dependent or Active/independent group. We hope all our readers understand absolutely no disrespect is meant to anyone who is disabled by using the terms active or residential and independent or dependent - making divisions based on residence and dependence on caregivers in an attempt to get better statistics on crime. These terms are not meant to describe anyone’s spirit or sense of self - we disparage no disabled people and hope all can understand that most serious crime against the disabled fits into one of these two categories.

As we shall soon see when the US DOJ – when the US Department of Justice began attempting to compile serious statistics about the disabled and crime they came to a similar conclusion. Whether it was because they understood there was a natural division of disabled crime and victims or whether it was born of logistical necessity; the BJS – the Bureau of Justice Statistics divides the disabled into two broad and inclusive groups: the disabled living in institutions, and those who live outside institutions. To keep stats on those not institutionalized, they further divide the disabled into six groups. To qualify as disabled, you must have for six months a disability or inability seeing, hearing, being ambulatory, taking care of yourself, going places by yourself; or you have cognitive issues. Although not perfect, there is a certain logical necessity to their efforts. The main problem with using institutionalization as the dividing point is that for many it is a matter of family finances and resources, not health status that decides whether accessible housing and adequate care is available. For the six disabled groups above who live among the AB, they will face non-fatal Major Crime at a rate double to triple that of their able-bodied neighbors. California District Attorney Daniel Sorensen has proven the disabled in institutions face a crime rate four to ten times higher than the AB. This is the horrible reality of crime against the disabled. A triple crime rate for the independent disabled, a 4 to 10 times higher rate for the dependent.

When discussing sexual crimes in institutional and adapted residential settings the readers must remember the S-D-M disabled are among the most severely disabled within the spectrum of the whole disabled community. These are people with extremely severe physical disabilities, with severe developmental/cognitive disabilities, and those with severe multiple disabilities who very often are communication challenged. These people live in a hospital, or in some kind of institution or long term care facility, or in an adapted residential setting. They are not able to function actively and independently, or even survive, without the continual care and support of a caregiver or PCA. This does not mean constant, every second care, but continuing care throughout the day and night. If not cared for in an institution, they may live with a family member or relative; and besides family are generally taken care of by PCA’s – personal care attendants, possibly aided by home health care nurses and therapists as well. Around half of the time the S-D-M disabled are victimized by a type of sexual predator who functions similarly to a pedophile, someone who gains access to his victims through work in the field - usually as a paid employee or volunteer. The others who abuse them are among the family, relatives, neighbors, and family friends who have access to the victim.

The daily life of an S-D-M disabled person and the sexual abuse/physical abuse they face are vastly different from the daily life of the walking disabled and the active independent wheelchair users who are preferred by lazy or sadistic criminals as a Soft Target for Major Crimes. The list of Major Crimes is long and can vary between agencies, but primarily major refers to crimes such as murder, armed robbery, burglary, assault and battery, sexual assault, and rape. Any serious violent or sexual crime against the disabled will be considered a Major Crime for the purposes of this study. Although burglary may not seem major, many burglaries escalate into assault or rape.

One may question if the divisions of the disabled put forward here are accurate why haven’t the disabled been divided like this from the beginning, why hasn’t this distinction always been made? First, this can be viewed as a natural evolution in the new field of study of disabled victims of crime which only began in earnest during the 1990’s. Second, in this day of political correctness an able-bodied researcher may be hesitant to statistically divide the disabled into two groups in which one will be classified as residential – dependent - severely disabled