Mentally Deficient, Commission to Investigate Provision for the

The Commission to Investigate Provision for the Mentally Deficient was created (Laws of 1914, Chapter 272) to examine the existing system for the care and training of the mentally deficient, including epileptics, and to make recommendations to the Legislature for improvement. The Commission was tied closely to the work of the State Board of Charities; Robert W. Hebberd, Secretary of the Board, was Chairman of the Commission and Commission staff used the Board's office and resources. The Commission submitted its final report to the Legislature in February 1915. The Commission gathered information from state custodial institutions, training schools, private charitable agencies, hospitals, and other institutions in New York and other states. Extensive public hearings were held throughout the state to collect evidence from state and local health officials, educators and researchers, police officials, corrections officials, private charity administrators, and others. Special surveys were distriubted in New York to public schools to determine the nature and extent of special classes for mentally deficient students and to county prisons to determine the number of mentally deficient inmates in the prison population. The Commission also sponsored an extensive survey of mentally deficient persons in Westchester County that was carred out by local government officials and private agencies in the county. The Commission, in its 628-page final report, concluded that the care and training of mentally deficient persons should be viewed as a state government problem and that increased funding was needed to make improvements in the system. The Commission found that only 3,000 of the estimated 24,000 mentally deficient persons in New York were cared for under the present system. It further concluded that 25% of mentally deficient persons were susceptible to criminal activity, thus adding further evidence for the need to segregate these people from the rest of the population. In its report, the Commission recommended that more money be provided for State Board of Charities programs, that state custodial facilities be expanded, and that several new institutions be built. It further recommended that more money be allocated for special programs and vocational training in public schools and for the establishment of a statewide clearinghouse to help identify persons needing special care and to ensure proper placement of mentally deficient persons in the custodial system.