When a crime is committed, it is ordinarily what the intentions of the felon were. Whether the individual is disabled or not, his/her reason for doing so was either because they knew it was wrong but still went through with it, or they weren"t aware of the fact they were at fault. Either way, they are still committing the crime, therefore making them guilty of a felony. However, in some aspects, the same can't be said. In Of Mice and Men, a mentally handicapped individual accidentally strangles a woman while stroking her hair. Lennie, the disabled man, had no intentions of inflicting harm on the woman and likes to touch whatever he likes. .
There are many cases in life where an individual might misuse a word in the English language. For example: if one uses the wrong form of their in whatever way it still does not make it correct. One then is taught the correct way to use it, and they have learned from their mistake. This is similar to when a mentally disabled person might commit a crime. It's true that their intentions were not to abuse the law, however the person is still accountable for the crime.
Despite the fact he/she is still at fault, it depends on how the guilty sentence is carried out. Even though they still committed the crime, punishment is not as severe if they don't remember, or were not aware of their wrong doings. In the Of Mice and Men novel, Lennie has a metal disability. Lennie says, on pages 9-10, and I quote, "They were so little, I"d pet "em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little bit and they was dead--because they so little." This statement proves, when talking about the rabbits, that Lennie does not know of his own strength, as seen in his confrontation with Curley's wife. Again, without knowing of his strength, he accidentally strangles her while stroking her hair. Lennie is still guilty of the crime, but on the other hand it was accidental.
