Residential placement of individuals with mental retardation: factors influencing court decisions.
Pennsylvania law mandates that involuntary commitment of persons with mental retardation be reviewed by the court system in order to assure due process. Fifty such cases in Philadelphia were reviewed in court over a period of one year and subsequently examined to determine current court trends toward institutional placement. Factors evaluated included characteristics of the individual, the presiding court, the impact of a court-appointed Child Advocate or Public Defender, and availability of residential alternatives. Results indicate that children were committed to institutional settings less frequently than adults. Other critical factors were prior placement, recommendations of advocates, and availability of alternative services.
Gilman
B
B
Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Spangler
P F
PF
Meadows
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015143:Philadelphia