NCJ Number
37809
Editor(s)
P L BROWNING
Date Published
1976
Length
359 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF 11 ESSAYS WHICH OUTLINE THE PROBLEMS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDER WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND REVIEW CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS TO AID THESE PERSONS.
Abstract
THIS VOLUME BRINGS TOGETHER A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE MUCH-NEGLECTED TOPIC OF WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE NAIVE OR RETARDED OFFENDER. THE UNIQUE COMPLEXITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REHABILITATION OF EITHER MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS OR PUBLIC OFFENDERS ALONE ARE IMMENSE IN AND OF THEMSELVES. THESE PROBLEMS ARE MULTIPLIED WHEN THE TWO CONDITIONS MERGE INTO A STILL DIFFERENT POPULATION. EXPLORING THIS SUBJECT IN A THOROUGH AND SCHOLARLY MANNER ARE A NUMBER OF PROFESSIONALS FROM THE FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY, REHABILITATION, LAW AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FIRST SECTION PROVIDES THE READER WITH A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE NAIVE OR RETARDED OFFENDER WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THREE OF THE MAJOR AREAS ADDRESSED ARE: IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF RETARDED OFFENDERS; THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH RIGHTS; AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND ITS PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS GROUP. THE SECOND SECTION ENCAPSULATES THE PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS OF A RECENTLY COORDINATED EFFORT BY REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS. RECOGNIZING THAT CORRECTIONAL REHABILITATION REFLECTS THE CONCEPTS OF REINTEGRATION AND RESTORATION RATHER THAN RETENTION AND RETRIBUTION. THIS SECTION DRAWS UPON A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND REHABILITATION INTERVENTION STRATEGIES WHICH ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO THIS SPECIAL POPULATION. THE CONCLUDING PART OF EACH SECTION IS COMPRISED OF A SPONTANEOUS DISCUSSION BY A VARIETY OF EXPERTS CONCERNED WITH THE RETARDED OFFENDER. IN ADDITION, THE TEXT CONTAINS 141 ANNOTATED REFERENCES ON THIS SPECIALIZED TOPIC. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)