Mentally Handicapped Offender

• NCJ Number: 90947
• Author(s): G T McDonald
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program; Sam Houston State University
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. 3/4 inch color videocassette; 1/2 inch color videocassette; 16 mm color; reel to reel black and white. Texas correctional agencies may rent for free. Program is 59 minutes long.

Annotation

The mentally handicapped offender (MHO) presents a particular problem to the criminal justice system. The police are best trained to handle 'normal' offenders and consequently fail to recognize those who are mentally handicapped.

Abstract

Such offenders may not be given probation because they are often thought to be poor risks. The handicapped offender literally falls into the cracks and seams of a system designed for people who are either offenders or handicapped, but not both. This training program is designed to improve the response of criminal justice agencies to MHO's. It explores the facts and fallacies concerning the MHO, identifying the mentally retarded from the mentally disturbed, as well as causes and indicators. The program also identifies specific behaviors likely to bring the mentally retarded and mentally disturbed to the attention of the law and emphasizes the importance of special handling procedures for the MHO for probation or parole, as well as knowledge helpful in using community resources that are available to help the MHO. (Author abstract modified)