The Mentally Retarded-A Quasi-Suspect Class?: Cleburne Living Center v. City of Cleburne

In recent years, the mentally retarded have been increasingly deinstitu- tionalized.1 One major factor responsible for this trend has been the acceptance of the theory of normalization, which proposes that mentally retarded individuals must be exposed to normal life patterns and conditions in order to develop their full potential. Mental health officials have attempted to implement normalization by the relocation of the mentally retarded into group homes. The group home format offers the benefits of family living through the placement of small groups of mentally retarded individuals into homes in residential areas