Statewide Adult Abuse Data

Terminology

Screening begins when a report of suspected adult abuse is received. The adult is called the alleged victim. If there is more than one alleged victim, a separate report is opened and screened for each person. A report can include one or more concerns, called allegations.

Types of abuse include: abandonment, financial exploitation, involuntary seclusion, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse and wrongful restraint. Self-neglect is considered a form of abuse in Aging and People with Disabilities data.

Trained screeners review each report to determine if the alleged victim meets eligibility criteria for one of our programs, and if the allegation meets the definition of abuse under Oregon law and administrative rules.

Screening timelines: Each program has required screening timelines for completing the screening process after a report is received. The timelines are set by Oregon law and depend on the level of risk to the alleged victim. Timeframes may be measured in hours or days.

APD: Aging and People with Disabilities

BH: Behavioral Health

IDD: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Terminology

Investigations happen when a report is "screened in," which means at least one allegation appears to meet the definition of abuse. The report is then assigned to an abuse investigator who conducts a thorough investigation and gathers evidence to determine if abuse happened.

Investigation timelines: Each program has required timelines for completing abuse investigations. The timelines are set by Oregon law and administrative rules for each program.

Investigation outcomes: After the investigation is complete, the investigator reviews the evidence and decides how likely it is that the abuse happened. Each allegation receives one of the following findings:

• Substantiated – Evidence shows abuse likely happened
  
• Unsubstantiated – Evidence shows abuse likely did not happen
• Inconclusive / Unable to Determine – Not enough evidence to make a decision
  
• Administrative Closure – Investigation was opened in error

APD: Aging and People with Disabilities

BH: Behavioral Health

IDD: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

• Office of Aging and People with Disabilities data
  
• Office of Training, Investigations and Safety (OTIS) data book (includes abuse of people receiving behavioral health services and people enrolled in intellectual and developmental disabilities services).