NCJ Number
102252
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 66 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring-Summer 1986) Pages: 77-84
Date Published
1986
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The award-winning Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Mentally Retarded Offenders Program (MRO), begun in 1980, is the only program in the United States which has combined the services of an adult probation department and mental health/mental retardation unit to deal with the special needs of mentally retarded offenders.
Abstract
MRO is used with mentally retarded offenders on both probation and parole. Clients are seen by both team members daily, and either member of the team can deal with a crisis. The team formulates expectations for each client and provides continuity of response to client needs and problems. The daily review of client progress helps develop client problemsolving skills. MRO's highest priority is the client's successful completion of probation and parole. MRO staff are familiar with community services, which equip them to make appropriate referrals. MRO staff also train criminal justice practitioners in the identification and management of mentally retarded persons. Representatives of the mental health/mental retardation unit consult with police when charges are filed against mentally retarded suspects. Probation and parole caseload size averages 40 to 50 clients, with approximately 60 clients served annually. The national recidivism rate for mentally retarded offenders is estimated to be 60 percent. During MRO's 5 years of operation, client recidivism has ranged from 3 to 5 percent. 9 footnotes, 1 table, and 2 references.