STUDY OF MENTALLY RETARDED JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS

• NCJ Number: 11580
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 54-61
• Author(s): C J MILLER; D MAYER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RETARDATION RESEARCH AND THEORY, AND ACCOUNT OF STUDY CONDUCTED AT MARTINEAU JUVENILE HALL UTILIZING A SPECIALIZED TREATMENT APPROACH.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS PROVIDE A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSONALITY OF RETARDED OFFENDERS AND THEN PROCEED TO PROFILE THE SAMPLE POPULATION. THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THERAPY AT MARTINEAU JUVENILE HALL WERE CONSTANT SUPERVISION AND REPETITION OF EXPECTATIONS. IT WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT THE CASEWORKER DEMONSTRATE HIS INTEREST IN THE RETARDED PERSON THROUGH FREQUENT INVOLVEMENT. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACTORS PERCEIVED AS CAUSES OF RETARDATION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. IN SUM, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT PROVED TO BE A SUCCESS IN MOST AREAS OF THERAPY. PROGRESS WAS SEEN IN THE AREAS OF SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTENDANCE, AND FAMILY DYNAMICS. MINIMAL SUCCESS RESULTED FROM GROUP THERAPY BECAUSE OF THE PASSIVITY OF THE CLIENTS INVOLVED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF RETARDED OFFENDERS CAN BECOME MORE SOCIALIZED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES.