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Do people with mental retardation commit crimes more often than people without this disability?
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Some people with mental retardation may commit crimes, not because they have below-average intelligence, but because of their unique personal experiences, environmental influences and individual differences.
During the early 1900s, mental retardation professionals believed that individuals with mental retardation were predisposed to becoming a criminal due to their disability. This "alarmist" view lost support during the 1930s as its leaders rescinded their original beliefs.
By the 1950s, and since that time, any findings suggesting a significant link between mental retardation and criminal behavior have been proven incorrect and, consequently, rejected (Ellis & Luckasson, 1985).
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