Texas Wesleyan Law Review
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Document Type
Article
Abstract
This Comment has four substantive sections beginning with a brief introduction about mental retardation. It will address how previous courts have handled mentally retarded defendants and identify emerging trends regarding the execution and punishment of mentally retarded individuals. This Author will then propose changes to the current system for handling mentally retarded defendants including: specialized training for judicial officers and special processing from booking and beyond. Followed by a brief discussion on the costs of implementation, how this system will help, and how the proposed system is different from the current system in place. Establishing a separate court system and minimum standards for the handling of mentally retarded individuals will give them the specialized care they need and result in the most effective punishment.
DOI
10.37419/TWLR.V17.I2.3
First Page
143
Last Page
163
Recommended Citation
Jacqueline Gonzales,
Improving the Handling of Mentally Retarded Defendants in the Criminal Justice System,
17
Tex. Wesleyan L. Rev.
143
(2011).
Available at:
https://doi.org/10.37419/TWLR.V17.I2.3