NCJ Number
126942
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This compilation of articles examines the link between learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
The National Center for Learning Disabilities emphasizes educating judges, attorneys, probation officers, and corrections and police officers about the link between learning disabilities and youth at risk of becoming delinquent. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges also recognizes the relation between learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency. Studies indicate that 5 to 18 percent, or 10 million, of the school-age population is learning-disabled. Learning-disabled youth are at risk of developing psychological and social problems ranging from isolation and depression, behavioral and conduct disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and juvenile court involvement to truancy, school dropout, and underemployability. Family and environmental influences are important in understanding the link between learning disabilities and subsequent delinquency. Juvenile justice professionals should learn to identify learning-disabled youth and provide appropriate special services. These professionals should look for a short attention span, difficulty in following directions, trouble vocalizing words, poor reading ability, poor eye-hand coordination, quick temper, tendency to be impulsive, state of disorganization, and overactivity or underactivity. Specific efforts in New York to address the learning disabilities/juvenile delinquency link are described.