Prevention efforts should focus on working with local school districts to identify youth with learning problems who may eventually drop out of school. In addition, the juvenile and criminal justice systems and social service systems must cooperate with each other and provide alternatives to incarceration for learning disabled offenders, special housing for developmentally disabled persons, and diversion programs. Advocacy on behalf of individuals and systems and training and awareness for professionals are also crucial elements in addressing the problem. A training program for criminal justice and human service professionals contains the following elements: (1) sensitivity to issues related to disabled offenders; (2) education of specific groups; and (3) training in specific strategies for dealing with offenders with learning and developmental disabilities. Case histories are presented. (Publisher summary modified)