Offenders with intellectual disability: the size of the problem and therapeutic outcomes.
BACKGROUND
People with intellectual disability (ID) who offend may be subject to a variety of dispositions within the criminal justice system, or via diversion to health and social services in inpatient units or in community ID teams. Offenders with ID are a group with complex needs who may pose a recurrent risk to the public. Despite the significant number of offenders with ID, there is limited evidence on treatment effectiveness and outcomes.


METHODS
A literature search of all electronic databases was undertaken, and journals were hand-searched for clinical trials or case studies of interventions for offenders with ID. The main outcome was recidivism rates.


RESULTS
There were no published clinical trials of offenders with ID. A series of small-scale group cognitive-behavioural treatments for sex offenders offers the most persuasive evidence of success in reducing recidivism.


CONCLUSIONS
Offenders with ID often receive inadequate services as a result of poor identification through the criminal justice system and research into effective treatments is rudimentary. Further studies are necessary in order to improve treatment efficacy and service provision for a complex group of individuals.
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D012736:Sex Education; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012951:Socialization; D013663:Teaching