TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE STATE SHOULD INSTITUTE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR INCARCERATED RETARDED OFFENDERS OR CREATE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS, THE FIRST PART OF THE STUDY UTILIZED A SURVEY OF ALL THE LITERATURE CONCERNED WITH ADULT MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS; A SURVEY OF EXISTING SOUTH CAROLINA LAWS AND RESPONSES OF CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL OF STATE AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS; AND QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE PRESENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE FORMAL EARLY DIVERSION OF RETARDED OFFENDERS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, ALL GROUPS INTERVIEWED AND SURVEYED WERE WILLING TO DIVERT THE MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDER. THEREFORE, A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR THE RETARDED OFFENDER SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED. TO ASSESS THE PRESENT EVALUATION PROCEDURES WITHIN THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AS WELL AS THE FEASIBILITY OF OFFERING TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE INCARCERATED RETARDED OFFENDER, RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS WITH STATE CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION AGENCIES AND QUESTIONNAIRES TO DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTIONS IN ALL 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FINDINGS SHOW THAT THE REVISED BETA EXAMINATION, ADMINISTERED TO INMATES AS THE SOLE DETERMINANT OF INTELLIGENCE, EXHIBITED DEFICIENCIES WHEN COMPARED TO THE WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE. PROCEDURES TO BETTER IDENTIFY AND EVALUTE MENTALLY RETARDED INMATES ARE RECOMMENDED, ALONG WITH A PLAN TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED, SINCE A PROGRAM OF EARLY DIVERSION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY FEASIBLE. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS USED AND THEIR RESULTS, A LIST OF PERSONS AND AGENCIES CONTACTED, AND EXCERPTS FROM A SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE BILL. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.