ABSTRACT
Defi nition of Mental Retardation ............................................................................................ 376 Characteristics of the Mentally Retarded Off ender .............................................................. 378 Types of Crimes Committed by Mentally Retarded Individuals ........................................ 380 Comorbidity/Dual Diagnoses .................................................................................................. 380 Specifi c Issues: Competence and Criminal Responsibility .................................................. 381
Competency to Confess ........................................................................................................ 381 Competence to Stand Trial .................................................................................................. 382 Competency to Enter a Plea ................................................................................................. 383 Competency to be Executed ................................................................................................ 384 Criminal Responsibility ....................................................................................................... 384
Writing Forensic Reports and Acting as an Expert Witness ............................................... 385 Th e Written Report ............................................................................................................... 385 Expert Testimony .................................................................................................................. 386
Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................................. 387 Dispositional/Treatment Considerations ............................................................................... 388 Future Implications ................................................................................................................... 389 References .................................................................................................................................... 390 Legal References ......................................................................................................................... 392
Mentally retarded and developmentally disabled individuals present a complex and costly dilemma for the courts and correctional facilities. It is estimated that although the prevalence of mental retardation is less than 1-2% of the population at large, mentally retarded individuals represent 4-10% of those in the criminal justice system (Petersilia, 1997; Sundram, 1990). Unlike individuals with physical or emotional disabilities, the defi cits of mentally retarded individuals are not always readily apparent to the forensic clinician, much less to attorneys or criminal justice personnel.
