This study from the Netherlands looked at whether it is possible to determine differences in personal characteristics and functioning between juvenile offenders under mandatory treatment orders who had a measured IQ of less than 70, between 70 and 85 and over 85. The authors were hoping to offer advice and guidance on ways to better fit supervision and treatment to specific needs in each of the identified groups.

They worked their way through 1,363 case files of serious juvenile offenders under a mandatory treatment order and scored them, using the juvenile forensic profile list. This is an instrument that uses more than 70 characteristics relevant to risk-assessment and measuring problem behaviour.

What they found was that behavioural, mental health problems and background characteristics of the juvenile offenders in each of the measured IQ bands were very similar.

They did find some differences, in social skills and relationships. They also suggest from their case reviews that the needs associated with a learning disability had important implications for the way treatment was offered.

They conclude that given a large proportion of serious juvenile offenders have learning disabilities, their findings are important to guide practice. They also recommend on-going reassessment of young people in the criminal justice system..

Serious juvenile offenders with and without intellectual disabilities, Kaal H et al., in Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 3, 2, 66 – 76