Friday, May 20, 2016 -Holyoke, Ma- Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni welcomed case workers and service providers from across the county on Thursday morning to an event titled; Protect, Report and Preserve. The event was designed to equip service providers and care workers for elders and persons with disabilities to learn best practices for the recognition and reporting of abuse.

During his opening remarks Hampden District Attorney Gulluni cited statics that show more than 90% of people with developmental disabilities will experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives and 49% will experience ten or more abuse incidents.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “This training was designed to educate care providers and case workers to recognize abuse and neglect of persons with disabilities, protect the victim when abuse is suspected and preserve possible evidence.” D.A. Gulluni went onto say, “Violence committed against elders and persons with disabilities is a frequently unrecognized and underreported problem. Unfortunately when abuse does happen, we are in a position to best investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who victimize our most vulnerable.”

The event took place at the Log Cabin in Holyoke to a room full of providers and case workers. Part of the training focused on educating those gathered on warning signs of abuse. Some signs include bruises, malnourishment, and changes in behavior and unusual activity in bank accounts.

The event was sponsored by Massachusetts Building Partnerships for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities Initiative or BPI and was facilitated through the Hampden District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission.

For more information on what to do if you suspect someone is the victim of abuse please go to www.mass.gov/dppc/