PROJECT CAMIO (CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND THE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT OFFENDER), V 5 - THE MENTALLY RETARDED IN A JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

• NCJ Number: 12531
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 122 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01-MR-07006 (HEW)
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Texas Dept of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL RETARDATION AMONG RESIDENTS OF TRAINING SCHOOLS ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS YOUTH COUNCIL.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A DETAILED RESUME OF THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY. HE DESCRIBES THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, SAMPLING PROCEDURES, INTELLIGENCE TESTING PROCEDURES, AND SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION GATHERED. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT 12.9 PERCENT OF THE MALES AND 16.6 PERCENT OF THE FEMALES ADMITTED TO THE TEXAS YOUTH COUNCIL BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1969 AND AUGUST 31, 1970 WERE MENTALLY RETARDED. COMMENTS ARE ALSO MADE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS, PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY, CURRENT COMMITMENT INFORMATION, AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE. THE AUTHOR DRAWS THE CONCLUSIONS THAT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF MENTALLY RETARDED YOUNGSTERS IN THE YOUTH COUNCIL IS RELATED TO THE ABSENCE OF DIVERSIONARY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE JUVENILE COURT AND THAT THE YOUTH COUNCIL IS PROBABLY IN VIOLATION OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL ACT SINCE IT SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES THE RETURN OF 'FEEBLE MINDED' YOUNGSTERS TO THE COMMITTING COURT FOR APPROPRIATE DISPOSITION. FOR THE OTHER REPORTS IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ 12527 THROUGH 12530 AND 12532 THROUGH 12534.