NCJ Number
141152
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 48-52
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
To provide for the habilitation of mentally retarded offenders, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) created a Mentally Retarded offender Unit (MRO Unit) within its probation department in 1980, appointed a clinical director of the MRO Unit within the court psychiatric clinic, and separated mentally retarded offenders from the general jail population.
Abstract
By 1992, the unit had supervised more than 300 offenders. Its monthly caseload size of 55-65 is lower than the regular caseload of more than 200 to provide high intensity supervision. The unit uses a case management model. Each probationer's needs are evaluated by the probation officer, the clinical director, and others. The probationer is then referred to an appropriate agency to receive appropriate services. An interagency, interdisciplinary team was created in 1988 to coordinate services and discuss habilitation plans. Problems that have emerged including the diagnosis mentally regarded offenders, difficulties in obtaining school records, and the hesitation by some community agencies to provide services to mentally retarded offenders. Nevertheless, the MRO Unit has a bright future and has achieved a concerted community effort to evaluate and serve the needs of the mentally retarded offender. Notes and 7 references