STUDY OBJECTIVES WERE TO DETERMINE (1) IF THERE WAS ONE PRIMARY PROBLEM WHICH PERMEATED THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND (2) HOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COULD ALSO HELP THE MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDER TO BECOME A MORE PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. THE STUDY POPULATION INCLUDED ALL RETARDED CITIZENS IN GEORGIA WHO HAD BROKEN THE LAW AND HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AS MANY AS 39 PERCENT OF INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS MENTALLY RETARDED (IQ OF 79 AND BELOW) AND AS MANY AS 44 PERCENT OF JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER INMATES COULD BE SIMILARLY CLASSIFIED. OF RETARDED OFFENDERS IN GEORGIA, 56 PERCENT COME FROM RURAL OR SMALL TOWN SETTINGS; 83 PERCENT ARE BLACK; MOST ARE MALES UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE; 88 PERCENT COME FROM FAMILIES THAT HAVE A MINIMUM INCOME OF $3,000 OR ARE ON WELFARE. BURGLARY, ROBBERY, AND THEFT ARE THE MOST COMMONLY COMMITTED CRIMES, FOLLOWED BY MANSLAUGHTER. THE RETARDED OFFENDER FUNCTIONS ON ABOUT A THIRD-GRADE LEVEL; MOST HAVE AN IQ RANGE OF 51 TO 60. THE RETARDED OFFENDER'S PAST RECORD INCLUDES 3.2 PRIOR ARRESTS COMPARED TO 2.9 FOR THE NORMAL INMATE. AFTER CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW, PROGRAM VISITS, AND PROGRAM REVIEWS, RESEARCHERS DEVELOPED LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIAL, AND CORRECTIONAL MODELS FOR ADULTS AND FOR JUVENILES TO SEE IF THEY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED OR ADAPTED TO GEORGIA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM EXISTS AT ALL LEVELS OF GEORGIA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT POLICE LACK EDUCATION IN MENTAL RETARDATION, JUDGES AND LAWYERS CANNOT FIND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS FOR MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS. RECOMMENDATIONS PROMOTE (1) STATE AND LOCAL COORDINATION EFFORT IN PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, (2) POLICE EDUCATION IN MENTAL RETARDATION, (3) A PROCESS FOR THE COURTS TO DETERMINE MENTAL RETARDATION IN PERSONS ACCUSED OF CRIME, (4) A PROGRAM FOR MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, AND (5) SPECIAL TRAINING AND SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR MENTALLY RETARDED OFFENDERS. TABLES AND GRAPHS ARE INCLUDED AND SUGGESTED PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED.