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Description: It is estimated that people with mental retardation comprise about 2 to 3 percent of the general population, yet they comprise 4 to 10 percent of the inmate population in state and federal prisons nationwide (Petersilia, 2000). However, statistics for this population are varied and difficult to compare due to differences in the ways in which mental retardation is identified. Data for the year 2002 suggest that, in Texas, when IQ alone was used, rough estimates were that 7 percent, or 8,758 individuals, of the institutional division of the prison system were persons with mental retardation, and 751 were in state jails comprising 5.1 percent of that population (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 2002). This does not take into account those on specialized caseloads of probation officers in the community or those who may have been diverted to residential programs.
Suggested Citation:
Seay, O. J. (2006). Evaluating Mental Retardation for Forensic Purposes [Electronic Version]. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice,
2(3), 52-81.
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Date: Sep 29, 2006 | File Size: 119.03 Kb | Downloads: 2823