David BrickerJohns Hopkins Children's CenterPublic Affairs410-223-1728
January 16, 2001
President Clinton appoints James Harris to mental retardation committee
President Clinton has appointed Johns Hopkins Children's Center psychiatrist James Harris, M.D., to the Health and Human Services Committee on Mental Retardation. Harris was sworn in to the position Jan. 12 for a two-year term.
Harris is expected to bring scientific expertise on the genetic and environmental mechanisms behind mental retardation to the 21-member committee, as well as an understanding of the ways in which mental retardation may, in certain cases, cause disruptive and violent behavior.
The committee meets four times a year to advise the White House on policy issues important to the mentally retarded. "My primary interest on the committee will be to help us focus on issues of psychiatric treatment and juvenile justice for mentally retarded people," says Harris.
One issue that may come before the committee is use of the death penalty for murders committed by the mentally retarded. The U.S. Supreme Court soon considers a case involving Johnny Paul Penry, whose lawyers say he is mentally retarded and are challenging his death penalty sentence.
Harris, who is credited with founding the academic field of developmental neuropsychiatry, serves as director of developmental neuropsychiatry at Johns Hopkins. He has previously held appointments as director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and president of the Society of Professors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Note: To arrange an interview with Harris, please contact David Bricker at 410-223-1728.
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