NCJ Number
88309
Date Published
1982
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Mentally retarded offenders in New Jersey juvenile correction and mental retardation facilities were found to be overrepresented in the incarcerated population and predominantly male, black, and poor.
Abstract
The target population consisted of juveniles 18 years-old or younger accused or adjudicated of status or delinquent offenses and who have an I.Q. score of 70 or under or who are perceived as mentally retarded by the system examined. Because the Division of Youth and Family Services, the State agency designated to provide social services to juvenile offenders, does not maintain individual or aggregate records relevant to the target population, research was limited to residents in the facilities of the Division of Mental Retardation (DMR) and the Department of Corrections, which have the required information on the target population. To determine the size and characteristics of the population, an indepth survey was conducted of case records in the facilities. Of the 950 juveniles housed in correctional facilities at the time of the research, 6 percent had I.Q.'s of 70 or below, with the highest concentration being found among those aged 16 or younger (10.5 percent). All persons admitted to DMR facilities were considered retarded regardless of test scores. Males were predominant in both study groups, as were blacks. Black mentally retarded offenders were more likely to be sent to correctional facilities than DMR facilities than were whites. Assault was the offense of most (54 percent) sent to DMR facilities, and breaking and entering was the offense of most in correctional facilities (63 percent). Incorrigibility was the most frequently recorded status offense for both groups. Six notes are listed.