The handbook contains facts about retardation and retarded offenders and discusses retardation and its relationship to criminal behavior. The physical characteristics and behavior patterns of retarded offenders are also identified. Programs to habilitate and counsel retarded offenders are discussed and include such areas as life skills, vocational development and job placement. The handbook discusses in detail a model program, developed by the Texas Department of Corrections, to identify retarded inmates and serve their individual needs for habilitation. The handbook also identifies the special legal status of retarded offenders and discusses the role of the citizen advocate and the right of mentally retarded offenders to treatment. Specialized associated disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and epilepsy are also defined in an appendix. 38 references.