THE FIRST PAPER DESCRIBES THE CURRENT SITUATION IN WHICH MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS RECEIVE LITTLE SPECIAL EDUCATION OR COUNSELING DIRECTED TO THEIR REHABILITATION FOR COMMUNITY LIFE. THE PROPORTION OF MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST 7 TO 9 PERCENT NATIONALLY AND AS HIGH AS 30 PERCENT IN SOME STATES. THE LACK OF RESPONSIBLE PROGRAMS IS DEMONSTRATED TO BE SEVERE EVEN IN SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPOSEDLY CREATED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PROVIDING REHABILITATION TO A BROAD CATEGORY OF 'MENTALLY DISABLED' PERSONS. RECOMMENDATIONS TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND INSTITUTIONS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDER. THIS PREFERENCE ARISES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FACT THAT RETARDED OFFENDERS RECEIVE THE LEAST APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING OF ALL INMATES WHEN PLACED IN A GENERAL PRISON OR MIXED TREATMENT CENTER. BOTH GENERAL PRISON AND REGULAR INSTITUTION PLACEMENTS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED ARE SEEN AS BEING INAPPROPRIATE FOR DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDER. THE FIRST REACTION PAPER IS SKEPTICAL OF SOCIETY'S ABILITY AND DESIRE TO PROVIDE TRULY REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT TO OFFENDERS, WHETHER MENTALLY RETARDED OR NOT. THE SECOND WARNS AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING MISTAKES SIMILAR TO THOSE MADE IN SEGREGATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED. BOTH OF THEM EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT MOST RETARDED OFFENDERS ARE ONLY MILDLY RETARDED; THEY STRESS THE DANGERS OF OVER CLASSIFICATION AND STIGMATIZATION. THEY BOTH PRESS FOR A REEVALUATION OF PRISON PROGRAMMING AND CRITICIZE THE OVERUSE OF PRISONS IN GENERAL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)