The Commonwealth ofMassachusetts
Disabled Persons ProtectionCommission
300GraniteStreet·Suite404·Braintree·Massachusetts · 02184
Reportsuspectedabuseofpersonswith
disabilities totheDPPC24hourHotline
1-800-426-9009
1-888-822-0350TTY
RunDate 7/9/2012
DPPCOVERVIEW
Everymonth, the DPPC receives hundreds of
abusereports. Thesereports aremaintainedand tracked usinganextensive computer database.In the DPPC database, over500 pieces of
information related to each reportaremaintained. Theinformation ranges from basic demographic information regardingthepeople involved, includingthe victim, to specific information about the siteof the allegedabuse and otherfactors that mayhave contributed to the abuse.TheDPPC tracks different types of injury, and information about whetheran injurywas caused byabuseor neglect.In addition to the hundreds of other categories, theDPPC tracks whetherthe alleged abuseorneglect reportedrepresents a crime. Information in the databaseis analyzed
continuallyin aneffort toidentifypotential preventative measures tobeimplemented and/or , trends and systemic challenges needing attention. On aquarterlybasisaportion of thedata is calculatedand providedfor review.In addition to providingthe quarterlystatistical data, forthose
ofyouwho arenot familiar with the DPPC, this report also presents thehistory, mission and an overview oftheoperations of theAgency.
TheDPPC was created through legislation in
1987 as an independent state agencyresponsible forthe investigation andremediation ofinstances of abuseagainstpersonswith disabilities. The mission ofthe DPPC is to protect adults with
disabilities from the abusive acts and omissions of their caregivers through investigation, oversight, public awareness andabuse prevention. Pursuant
to its enablingstatute, M.G.L.c. 19C, the jurisdiction ofthe DPPCextends to adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 59 who suffer serious physical and/or emotional injury through an act and/or omission bytheir caretaker (s). This protection is provided whetherthe individual is in state care or in aprivate setting.
Although an independentagency, DPPC was designed to beoneofanumberof agencies with complementarymissions, including, but not limited to the ExecutiveOfficeof ElderAffairs,
Department of Childrenand Families, Department
ofDevelopmental Services, Department of Mental Health, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the local and statepolice. Replacingnoneof them, the DPPC was designed toclosely
coordinate its work withall. TheDPPC, similar to the Department of Children and Families for children and the ExecutiveOfficeof Elder Affairs for elders,acts to protect adults with disabilities
who aredependent on others to meet a dailyliving need. DPPC fills thegapbetween thechild protection and elder protection systems. DPPC is a small agency, located in Braintree, MA.It has a
staff of28 full time employees includingfive investigators,onelawenforcement liaison/abuse prevention coordinator,five oversight officers and three hotline operators.TheDPPC is comprised of sixfunctions includingPrevention,Intake/ Oversight,Investigation,Legal,Information Technologyand Administration and Finance.
During fiscalyear 1998,aStatePoliceDetective
Unit (SPDU) was establishedwithin the DPPC.
TheSPDUis comprised of aDetectiveLieutenant and fourtroopers. TheSPDUis physicallylocated within the offices of theDPPC.
TheDPPC Hotline receives reports ofabuse committed againstpersons with disabilities 24
hours per day, seven days perweek, at 1-800-426-
9009 or1-888-822-0350 TTY. Duringthis quarter the DPPC received1906reports of abuse.In addition, DPPC staff responded to approximately
1,312 referraland informational requests. Every abusereport madeto theHotlineis reviewed pursuant to the DPPC screeningcriteria. A determination is made regarding whether the report representsan emergencyor non-
emergency, and then, whetherthe situation meets the agency’s jurisdictional criteria.Duringthis quarter ofthe fiscalyear,578ofthe reports to the DPPC Hotlinewereassigned for19C
investigation. Also duringthis quarter ofthe fiscal year, 1,328 reports not within thejurisdiction of
the Commission wereforwarded to the
appropriate stateagencyfor review and action as necessary.
DPPCHotlineActivity
Numberof Reports ScreenedInfor Investigation,
578
Numberof
ReportsNot Under19C Jurisdiction,
1,328
During this Quarter threereportsreceived bytheDPPC Hotlinewereidentified as malicious reports.
DPPCINVESTIGATION UNIT
Reportsof allegedabusedeterminedtobewithinthe jurisdictionofthe DPPC are immediatelyassignedtoa19C Investigatoranda DPPC OversightOfficer.The
19C Investigator maybe oneof DPPC’sInvestigatorsor anInvestigator fromthe
Departmentof DevelopmentalServices(DDS), Departmentof MentalHealth (DMH) or the MassachusettsRehabilitationCommission(MRC).The DPPC In- vestigationUnitandthe InvestigationUnitsof DDS, DMHandMRC conduct abuseinvestigationsunderthe authorityof M.G.L.c.19C.The primary focus of
all19C investigationsistheprotectionof vulnerable individuals.Investigators alsolookforsystemic issuesthatmaycontributeor leadtoabuse.
DPPCOVERSIGHTUNIT
The DPPC OversightUnitisresponsible formonitoringall19C investigations. Every
case, whetherinvestigatedbyDPPC, DDS, DMHor MRC,ismonitoredbyone of
DPPC's five OversightOfficerstoensurethatthe victimissafe,the reportistimely andthe investigationisthorough.Incaseswhere abusebyacaregiverhasbeensub-
stantiated,protectiveservicesare providedbythe respective service-providingagency,
DDS, DMHor MRC.Toconfirmthatnecessaryprotective servicesareimplemented,
the DPPC OversightOfficersmonitor casesuntilriskof harmtothevictimisade- quatelyreducedor eliminated.
The DPPC protectsindividualswithany formofdisability. Thischartillustrates
abusereportstotheDPPC Hotlineby disability forthisquarter.
1200
SCREENEDINBYDISABILITY
1000
1,014
800
600
592550
400
200
10
0
1037452
9482
34
STATE POLICE DETECTIVEUNIT
The troopersof the SPDUreview100%ofthe complaintsreceivedbythe DPPC todeter- mine whichof thesecomplaintsconstitutecriminalactivityagainsta personwithadisabil-
ity.Withinthisquarter the SPDUreviewed1,906allegationsofabuse. Of the 1,906reports reviewed,321or 16.7%were referredtothe DistrictAttorneyfor criminalinvestigation
andcriminalchargeswere filedinatleast29cases.The followinggraphisabreakdownby countyof thenumber ofreportsreceivedbythe DPPC Hotline,reportsmeetingthe jurisdic- tionfor19C investigation,andthe number ofreportsreferredtothe DistrictAttorneyfor criminalinvestigation.
Disabled PersonsProtection Commission
19CCriminalReportsbyCounty
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE
The MassachusettsState Police DetectiveUnit(SPDU) assignedtothe DPPC analyzesthe typesof crimesinvolvedinthe abuse reportsreceivedbythe DPPC Hotline.Thischart presentsthe typesofcriminalactivityreported.Consistentlyasignificantpercentageof the criminalactivityissexualinnature.
CriminalActivityReport
April-June2012
Oftenreportstothe DPPC Hotline involve domestic violence.Domestic violenceisabuse thatoftentakesplacewhere thepersonlives. Domesticviolencecanbe anytype of abuse
includingsexualassaultandrape,emotional, psychologicalor financial. Domestic violence
involves"familyandhouseholdmembers"whoareor were married,livingtogether,related
byblood,parentsof acommonchildor involvedina substantivedatingrelationship.Dur-
ingthisquarter itwasdeterminedthat79reportsmade tothe DPPC Hotlineinvolveddo- mesticviolence abuse.
LEGALUNIT
The DPPC LegalUnitprovideslegaladvice andguidanceonmattersbefore the DPPC. Thisincludesassistance providedtoDPPC staff andstaff oftheDepartmentof Devel- opmentalServices,the Departmentof MentalHealthandthe MassachusettsRehabilita- tionCommission.
Inadditionthe LegalUnitperformsthefollowingfunctionswithinthe DPPC:
• SecuresAccessWarrantswhenlawenforcementand/or 19Cinvestigatorsare un-
reasonablydeniedaccesstoan allegedvictimof abuse.
• ObtainsjudicialProtective Orderswhen anallegedvictimof abuseisatimmediate
riskof harmandisnotabletoconsenttothe provisionof protectiveservicesdue to
amentalorphysicalimpairment.
• Respondstoreportsof MandatedReporters’failuretoreportabuseasrequiredby
M.G.L.c.19C §10.
• CompletesPetitionsfor Reviewasoutlinedin118CMR.Theallegedvictim,the
allegedabuserandotherpartiesinvolvedinaninvestigation,mayrequestareview
of the findings.Uponthe conclusionofthereviewprocess,theinvestigationreport maybe amendedifthe factsprovidedinthe Petitionare foundtobe meritorious.
The DPPC received 29Petitionsfor Reviewduringthisquarter.
Actsasthe DPPC'sKeeperofthe Recordandensuresthatallresponsestorequests
for DPPC recordsarecompliantwithallstatutoryrequirements.
ABUSE PREVENTION UNIT
Everyone atDPPC sharesinthe responsibilityfor preventingabuse. DPPC continually strivestoidentifynewandeffective waystoeducate directcarestaff,lawenforcement, othersworkingwithpersonswithdisabilitiesandthepublic aboutthe prevalenceof
abuseof personswithdisabilities.The DPPC’sabuse preventionstrategyistodecrease incidentsof abuse byincreasingawarenessabouthowwidespreadthe problemof
abuse/neglectagainstpersonswithdisabilitiesis;andthentoeducate people regarding
theimportantrole theycanplayinpreventingor stoppingthisabuse.Toeducatepeople
the DPPC PreventionUnitdistributes19Cinformationalmaterialsandconductstrain-
ingonanongoingbasis.Trainingisprovidedtoa broadrange ofpeople includinglaw enforcement,educators,medicalprofessionals, serviceprovidersandpersonswithdis- abilities. Topicsinclude recognizingandreportingabuse,preservation of evidence,the
DPPC investigationprocess,communicatingwithindividualsfromvariedbackgrounds
or withdifferingcommunicationneedsaswellasregulatoryandstatutorycompliance.
MASSACHUSETTSAGENCIESPARTNERFOR CRIME VICTIMSWITH DISABILITIES
In Mayof1999 a partnership wasformed inMassachusetts between law enforcementand human service agencies
in aneffortto effectivelyand efficientlyaddressabuse, neglectandcrimescommitted againstpersons with disabili- ties. “BuildingPartnershipsforthe Protection ofPersons with Disabilities,”isa uniqueinitiative which affords
equalaccesstothecriminaljustice systemforcrime victims withdisabilities.Theinitiative, which usesa multidis-
ciplinaryapproachto addresscrimesagainstpersons with disabilities, was conceived andimplemented thanks to
theforesightofElizabeth D. Scheibel, DistrictAttorneyof the Northwestern Districtand GeraldJ.Morrissey,Jr.,
then CommissioneroftheDepartmentofDevelopmentalServices (DDS), throughthe commitmentof the Disabled Persons Protection Commission(DPPC)and the supportof the Executive Office ofHealthand Human Services (EOHHS).The statewide partnershipisfundedthrough an Executive OfficeofPublic Safety(EOPS)Byrne grant
and administered bythe Massachusetts DistrictAttorneys'Association(MDAA).
Thepartnershipinitiative brings together,through formalMemorandums ofUnderstanding(MOU),the District
Attorney, human serviceorganizationsandlaw enforcementagencies ineachcounty. The goals ofthe initiative are
to provide protection,treatmentand continuityofcareforpersonswithdisabilities who are victims ofa crime;to increase awarenessofcrimesbeingcommitted againstpersons with disabilities;toincreasecommunication and co-
operation betweenlawenforcementand agenciesprovidingservicesto persons with disabilities;andto ensurethat
crimescommitted againstpersons with disabilities arepromptlyreported, investigatedbytrainedlaw enforcement personnelandprosecuted when appropriate.
With the MOU,in FY2012,1,243cases were investigated criminallyresultingin at least138criminalcomplaints.
Of those1,243 criminalcases,265werecrimesofa sexualnature.The followinggraph depicts the increase in abusereports referred to the districtattorneys forcriminalinvestigationand possible prosecutionforFY1997
through 2012.
DEVALL.PATRICK
GOVERNOR
TIMOTHY P.MURRAY
LT.GOVERNOR
TheDPPC’sstaff thanksyou for taking the timetoreviewthis
quarterlyreport.If youhavequestionsorrequire additional information, pleasedonothesitatetocontact theDPPC,at (617) 727-6465.
The CommonwealthofMassachusetts
DisabledPersons Protection Commission
300GraniteStreet ▪ Suite404 ▪ BraintreeMA02184
OfficeHours:8:45am-5:00pmMonday-Friday
(617) 727-6465 ▪ (888) 822-0350TTY ▪ (617) 727-6469FAX
24Hour HOTLINE:(800) 426-9009or (888) 822-0350TTY WEBSITE:
CARLAA.GOODWIN, Ph.D.
CHAIRPERSON
JO ANN SPRAGUE
COMMISSIONER
NANCYA.ALTERIO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR