Reply #33: That really troubles me [View All]

A retarded boy with an IQ of 70 being charged with a crime and sent to a trial. My memory is vague on this - I'm thinking an IQ of 70 is on the lower end of the moderate range of functioning.

That just doesn't seem the appropriate way to deal with that incident, and to be honest it scares me to think mentally disabled citizens would be charged with crimes. Obviously it depends on the degree of functioning and severity of disability, but at what level would they consider not filing charges and instead consider social services or other guidance or support?

That is not to minimize the anxiety you and your roomate experienced, but I think under the circumstances the action taken was overkill and the boy should have been dealt with on a human services level rather that a legal, punitive one.

I'd like to think the rights of mentally disabled citizens are being considered and respected as well.