HI All, I read most of your notes but rarely send in comments. 

You should look into NYS Education Dept. under NCLB and the Neglected and Delinquent Title 1 Part D for rules and regulations on disbilities. IDEA is also addressed here. For the county jails -  the timeline for addressing the disabilities, the cost to the school districts where the jails are located, the length of stay of the youth (16 years old and up) - both sentenced and unsentenced, all makes it difficult for the programs. Our teachers get in touch with the student's home school for IEPs but that assumes the student is enrolled in school. It is very challenging to say the least. 
However on a positive note..I think NYSED is really working hard to get disabilities diagnosed and addressed. Bobbi


>>> "Mary Loescher" <mloescher at rrps.net> 10/29/09 6:57 PM >>>

To Katherine and Michael. 

 

I so appreciate both of your posts.  I chose this case because now working
in the schools I am able to provide more for the students than in the
criminal justice system.  Evaluations in the criminal justice system do not
include in-depth educational evaluations.  Usually there is at most an
academic screening and an IQ test to give some idea of intellectual ability.
No his case is not hopeless, but as each event happens, more barriers are
erected.  One of the problems in the criminal justice system is that there
are few individualized outcomes.  Probation requirements are up to the
judges and are pretty similar across cases.  There are numerous issues about
the criminal justice  system that are beyond the scope of the issues being
discussed on this list; however, those of us who are concerned about such
things do work as much as possible to create understanding of the issues
involved and try to provide ways in that system to address these problems.
It has been my experience that when juveniles have a good probation officer
it can become a time to intervene effectively.  The judges are also much
more open to looking at alternative solutions.  There is education provided
in the detention center and when there are staff members who can really work
with them on an individual basis, some really good things can happen.  I do
not know what is available in other states and I would really like some
information on this if there is anyone who knows.  

 

Mary  

  _____  

From: learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Michael Tate
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:00 PM
To: The Learning Disabilities Discussion List
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 4165] Re: Case History of an Adult Defendant
- Posted by Dr. Mary Loescher

 

 

Katherine and others,

 

I would say this person is far from hopeless, but he is clearly circling the
drain.   One more felony in the state I live in would result in him being
declared an habitual criminal with a long prison sentence, if not life.

 

He needs extensive work in affective skills: getting long with others,
self-awareness, self-management, dealing with emotions, etc. as well as some
ethics and values work.

 

He needs to begin some depression therapy including medications and
counseling..  He needs to join a support group for substance abuse.  If
possible, he should re-locate to a country where drug addiction is viewed as
a medical problem.

 

I doubt that he will be successful with the GED, especially in just 6
months,  so his attorney should probably have that removed from his
probation requirements.  If he has to take the GED tests, I'd ask for
extended time, a calculator, a scribe and some form of audio-test.  I
couldn't tell if he would benefit from frequent breaks or limiting his
testing to one test per day.  He needs to practice using these
accommodations now in his GED prep classes..

 

I think he would benefit from hands-on vocational training, but would
struggle in a reading and writing based program.  He would do best in a
small workcrew where he gets support from his boss and co-workers.  He would
need to participate in a felon- bond program, since he will likely end up in
construction and remodelling which will take him into people's homes.  Some
of the jobs he might be good at can take place in warehouses and
manufacturing, so that might be a better option for him. 

 

He would be good at tile-setting or similar jobs if he could learn them by
watching and doing with feedback.   This income may help him avoid the
larceny crimes, but will probably not help much in deterring him from the
"easy money" drug crimes.

 

Michael Tate