The delinquent in state schools for the mentally retarded

Purpose: The goals of this study were: (1) to identify the incidence of anti-social behaviors and delinquent histories among recent admissions to Texas state schools for the mentally retarded; and (2) to formulate suitable strategies for the custody and treatment of the defective delinquent. Methods: All persons selected for the sample were admitted to a state school during the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's fiscal year 1970 which covered the period beginning September 1, 1969, and ending August 31, 1970. The group of persons admitted during this time period numbered 1,981. In order to reduce the final sample to only those admissions with a reasonable likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system, the initial sample was screened on the basis of: age less than ten, serious sensory or physical defect ambulation, and IQ less than 35. Any person satisfying one or more of these criteria were systematically excluded from the final sample. Four hundred and thirty persons remained to form the final sample. The basic research instrument was a personal history inventory taken by means of a questionnaire given to each subject's caseworker. The questionnaire surveyed demographic characteristics and the incidence of anti-social and delinquent behaviors as well as criminal/delinquent histories. Additional data were compiled from information routinely gathered by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Findings: 1. Only approximately one quarter of the admissions to state schools in Texas during the period covered by the study had the mental and physical potential requisite for possible contact with the criminal justice system. 2. Of those persons resident at state schools who are at least minimally capable of contact with the criminal justice system, a significant number exhibit intra-institutional behaviors which are delinquent or pre delinquent in nature and which act to disrupt existing institutional treatment programs. 3. Behaviors which appear to be significant intra- institutional problems include lying, sexual aggressiveness, stealing, heterosexual acts, and masturbation. Significant numbers of subjects also exhibited hyperactive behavior, assaultive behavior on both employees and patients, destroying property, temper tantrums, and other hostile behavior. 4. Although substantial numbers of residents at state schools exhibit behaviors of an anti-social or delinquent iv nature, very few have been formally adjudicated as delinquent or had contact with the criminal justice system. 5. In virtually all categories of criminal history and anti-social behavior, juveniles were represented more heavily than adults. Juvenile males showed the greatest incidence of most anti-social and criminal behaviors.