NCJ Number
59680
Date Published
Unknown
Length
54 pages
Annotation
THIS WORKSHOP MANUAL DISCUSSES THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE OFFENDER WHO IS DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED AND SUGGESTS SPECIAL TREATMENT OR DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS.
Abstract
FOUR MAIN TOPICS ARE TREATED: THE NATURE OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PRESENT TREATMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED OFFENDER IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDER IN OTHER WAYS BY THE PRESENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND PROPOSALS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR IMPROVING TREATMENT. METHODOLOGY IS COMPILING THE MANUAL CONSISTED MAINLY OF GATHERING A VARIETY OF ARTICLES, STUDIES, AND PROPOSALS ON THE PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. A BRIEF EXPLANATION IS GIVEN OF THE FOUR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES--AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, EPILEPSY, AND MENTAL RETARDATION. THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED OFFENDER WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS OUTLINED, AND THE TREATMENT OF SUCH AN OFFENDER IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS EXAMINED. DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE EXPLORED SUCH AS PRESENT LAWS AND LACK OF SPECIAL ATTENTION. PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING AN EXCEPTIONAL OFFENDERS COURT, REFORMING THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, IMPROVING TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND CHANGING THE CRIMINAL LAW. THE MANUAL CONCLUDES THAT DUE TO THE SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED OFFENDERS, AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH APPEARS DESIRABLE. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)