FORUM on Corrections Research

Persons with intellectual disability who are incarcerated for criminal offences: A literature review (R-14, 1991)

This comprehensive review provides readers with insight into complex and sensitive incarceration issues relevant to intellectually disabled offenders. The literature review addresses a range of subject matters, such as definitions and descriptors, measuring intellectual disability and the importance of making the distinction between intellectual disability and mental illness.

The review discusses the relationship between intellectual disability and criminal behaviour, defining characteristics of offenders and types of crimes committed by persons with intellectual impairment. It also examines "the prison experience" as a punitive environment of exploitation and victimization subject to the conditions of prison discipline. The author presents a discussion on the rights of the intellectually disabled offender, including institutional habitation, equality and special needs.

The review explores some research questions requiring further investigation in the Canadian context to determine the magnitude of the problem of persons with intellectual disabilities serving criminal sentences in Canadian correctional facilities.