A selective review of research on offenders with developmental disabilities: assessment and treatment

Abstract

The process of deinstitutionalization has changed the nature of research on offenders with developmental disabilities, transferring the focus of enquiry from institutions to the community. As a result, there have been significant increases in the extent of research on assessment, treatment and service systems. This selective review focuses on anger and aggression, fire-setting and inappropriate sexual behaviour to illustrate the way in which developments are beginning to support clinical work in the area. We now have a number of assessments to delineate psychological variables and there are also developments in the assessment of risk for future violence. Treatment programmes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, relying increasingly on developments in cognitive techniques. Controlled trials indicate that treatment for anger and aggression may be effective in terms of both proximal and socially validated outcomes. There is a lack of controlled outcome research in other areas. More recent research comparing individuals in different levels of security may have impacts on services.

Forensic aspects in people with intellectual disabilities

“…Amongst these are The Handbook of Forensic Learning Disabilities [11 ], which provides an insight into practice and policy in key areas, and Anger Treatment for People with Developmental Disabilities [12 ], which not only offers a theoretical underpinning and research overview but also provides a 'manual-guided cognitive behavioural anger treatment protocol'. Within the journals, the highlight is a concise review of the evidence base and recent advances regarding fire setting, anger and aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour [13 ].…”

The relationship between intellectual ability and the treatment needs of offenders in a therapeutic community prison

“…Another issue in treatment planning is whether there are differences in treatment needs between ID and non-ID populations. Although some studies have reported no difference between ID and non-ID offenders with respect to the level or type of treatment needs (Kalal, Nezu, Nezu, & McGuffin, 1997;Nezu, Nezu, & Dudek, 1998), others suggest that ID offenders have specific attitudinal and skill deficits (Langdon & Talbot, 2006;Lindsay & Taylor, 2005), which need to be a focus of treatment. However, relatively little attention has been given to how far interventions with ID offenders need to be adapted to meet differences, not only in the learning style but also in the specific treatment needs of this population.…”

A multi‐centre study of adults with learning disabilities referred to services for antisocial or offending behaviour: demographic, individual, offending and service characteristics

“…Similarly, there is no good evidence to show that the frequency and nature of offending by people with ID differs from that committed by offenders in the general population (Lindsay & Taylor, 2005). For example, Walker and McCabe (1973) in a study of 331 offenders with LD detained under hospital orders in England and Wales, found high rates of fire-raising (15%) and sexual offences (28%) when compared with other groups in their secure hospital sample.…”