NCJ Number
147375
Journal
Hospital and Community Psychiatry Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1993) Pages: 784-786
Date Published
1993
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Data from 2,536 forensic evaluation forms submitted in Virginia between July 1985 and June 1991 were used to examine the relationship between mental retardation and criminal offenses, especially the prevalence of mental retardation among persons charged with a sex offense.
Abstract
The research examined the offense for which the defendant was charged, the psychiatric diagnosis, and the clinician's psycholegal opinion. Offenses were grouped into six categories: homicide, crimes against people, sex offenses, property crimes, public order offenses, and all other offenses. The sex offenses were grouped into three categories: felonies versus misdemeanors, violent versus nonviolent crime, and crimes against adults versus those against children. Results revealed an overall difference between the mentally retarded and nonretarded groups in the rates of various offenses. the rate of sex offense charges was nearly twice as high among mentally retarded defendants as among defendants who were not retarded. No significant differences were found between the mentally retarded and nonretarded sex offenders in the nature of the crimes. Results indicated the need for treatment programs designed specifically for developmentally disabled sex offenders and for further research on treatment effectiveness with mentally retarded persons. Table and 10 references