NCJ Number
88316
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
South Carolina's offender advocate not only works with the client but also with State agencies and legislative offices to improve resources for juvenile and adult mentally retarded or developmentally disabled offenders.
Abstract
The South Carolina Protection and Advocacy System for the Handicapped was established in 1977 in response to a Federal mandate set forth in Public Law 94-103. Protection and advocacy services are provided by a staff of regional advocates and several State-level advocates who provide special expertise in areas such as education rights and legal rights of handicapped citizens. The offender advocate has initiated a process of changing attitudes and practices that for generations have ignored the legitimate needs of handicapped persons. Most of the cases handled thus far have involved developmentally disabled offenders at risk of incarceration or already incarcerated. These cases have required numerous contacts with public defenders, private attorneys, vocational rehabilitation counselors, jail administrators, parole and probation staff, wardens, superintendents, and other correctional staff. Other activity has involved contact with various State agencies and personnel to include the concerns of developmentally disabled offenders in various State plans. The advocate has attended two conferences on special programming within jails and prisons. As a result of one of the conferences, there appears to be possible funding by the National Institute of Corrections for a public defender's office to provide diagnostic and evaluation services for indigent clients thought to be handicapped or developmentally disabled.