UNDERSERVED CITIZENS 411

A Program of the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network

Funded by the South Carolina Bar IOLTA Foundation

• Although there is no way to know exactly how many people with disabilities are victimized in the U.S. each year, researchers have found that they have a 4 to 10 times higher risk of becoming victims of crime when compared to those without disabilities.

• Reports to Adult Protection Service agencies of elder abuse increased 150 percent between 1986 and 1996.  This increase dramatically exceeded the 10 percent increase in the older population over the same period.   

• South Carolina’s Hispanic population is the State’s largest and fastest growing population, with a 211.7% increase since 1999.  It is the 4th fastest growing population in the Nation.

With a grant provided by the
South Carolina Bar IOLTA Foundation,

SCVAN reaches out to people with mental and physical disabilities, the elderly, and immigrant populations to:

• provide free legal education about the legal rights of crime victims

• provide free legal advice and information about methods to assert and obtain their constitutional rights and mandated services within the criminal justice system.

• help disabled, elderly and immigrant people access the criminal justice system to meet their needs, reduce revictimization and obtain justice.

Susan Quinn, Esquire, provides training and legal information to these traditionally underserved groups and their caregivers.  If you are interested in Susan presenting this vital program to your organization, please contact Fabienne at fabienne@scvan.org, or call 888.852.1900.