CRIMINAL REFORM MOVEMENT (FROM MENTALLY RETARDED CITIZEN AND THE LAW, 1976 BY MICHAEL KINDRED, JULIUS COHEN, DAVID PENROD AND THOMAS SHAFFER - SEE NCJ-35524)

• NCJ Number: 35525
• Author(s): S J FOX; R C ALLEN; R J GOLTEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Free Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE DEALS WITH EFFORTS TO REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS ARE OR SHOULD BE SINGLED OUT IN THIS MOVEMENT FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR SURVEYS A NUMBER OF REFORM EFFORTS TO SHOW THAT MENTAL RETARDATION IS IGNORED IN MANY SITUATIONS WHERE IT HAS RELEVANCE AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE INPUT TO MOST REFORM PROPOSALS BY THOSE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF MENTALLY RETARDED CITIZENS. HE PROPOSES A THREE-STEP APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM: A THOROUGH STUDY OF REFORM PROPOSALS TO DOCUMENT SYSTEMATICALLY THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY IGNORE SPECIAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO MENTAL RETARDATION; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED; AND A STRATEGIC DECISION AS TO WHETHER SOME OR ALL ASPECTS OF THE MODEL SHOULD BE ACTIVELY PRESSED. TWO REACTION COMMENTS DISCUSS THE AUTHOR'S VIEWS ON THE CREATION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL OFFENDERS COURT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)