Advocacy on Behalf of Developmentally Disabled Offenders

• NCJ Number: 102248
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 66 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring-Summer 1986) Pages: 24-38
• Author(s): S R Gelman
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Key issues in advocacy services for developmentally disabled offenders include definitional problems and proper identification, linkage to appropriate assessment resources to help determine competency, appropriate legal representation, and dispositional alternatives.

Abstract

Because of the range of disabilities among developmentally disabled offenders and variations among persons having similar disabilities, advocacy services for this population require specialized expertise and input from lay advocates. Cooperation among advocacy personnel and the developmentally disabled defendant is critical to effective assessment, legal representation, and appropriate disposition. Developmentally disabled persons should receive the same rights, due process protections, and dispositional alternatives as others processed by the criminal justice system. They should be involved to the maximum extent possible in all processing steps. Disposition should be based on identified offender needs and the public's need to be protected from criminal behavior. 41 references.