NCJ Number
41558
Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CORRECTION Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH-APRIL 1977) Pages: 16 & 36
Date Published
1977
Length
2 pages
Annotation
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS NEED TO ESTABLISH DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR RETARDED INMATES TO HELP THESE PERSONS LEARN SKILLS NEEDED FOR GREATER DEGREES OF INDEPENDENCE BOTH IN AND OUT OF PRISON.
Abstract
IN PRISONS THAN ARE FOUND THE GENERAL POPULATION. STUDIES INDICATE THAT, IN 1969, 9.5 PERCENT OF ALL INCARCERATED INMATES WERE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THAT IN 1976, 23,700 RETARDED PERSONS WERE IN PRISONS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH RETARDED PEOPLE ARE NOT MORE PRONE TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, THEY ARE MORE OFTEN CAUGHT, CONVICTED, AND SENTENCED TO PRISON THAN NONRETARDED PEOPLE. MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO PLEA BARGAIN, OFTEN SERVE LONGER SENTENCES THAN NONRETARDED INMATES, AND OFTEN FAIL TO MEET PAROLE CRITERIA, THEREBY DISTORTING THE PERCENTAGES IN OFFENDER STATISTICS. BECAUSE FEW CORRECTION OFFICERS HAVE HAD SPECIAL TRAINING IN THE PROBLEMS OF RETARDED INMATES, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE NOT PROVIDED REHABILITATION FOR RETARDED OFFENDERS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF RECIDIVISM FOR RETARDED OFFENDERS THAN FOR OTHER GROUPS. A RETARDED PERSON'S MATURATION PROCESS IS NOT ARRESTED AT ANY ONE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT DOES LAG BEHIND NORMAL MATURATION RATES AND IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS DEVELOPMENTAL LAG LEADS TO PROLONGED PHYSCIAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND RESIDENTIAL DEFICIENCIES. NUMEROUS STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF WELL-DESIGNED PROGRAMS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF RETARDED PERSONS HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT GROWTH ALWAYS REMAINS A POSSIBILITY, AND PHENOMENAL CHANGES IN THE ABILITIES OF RETARDED PERSONS HAVE BEEN RECORDED. (PRG)