Identifying the developmentally disabled sex offenders

The identification, assessment and treatment of the mentally retarded sex offender presents a dilemma for not only professional evaluators and departments of developmental disabilities, but also for law enforcement agencies, criminal justice systems and, in some cases, the correctional system. The paucity of information on the mentally retarded sex offender leads many professionals to offer patchwork types of treatments and treatment planning which does nothing to alleviate the problem. This article will provide professionals with a framework which can be modified and used to justify treatment. The presentation seeks to integrate information gathering and clinical knowledge into a comprehensive treatment plan that takes into account specific interventions as well as accountability for the rights of the mentally retarded.