Jailing the Mentally Ill
Virginia politicians thought it would be a good idea to shrink many of the state’s mental health institutions so that the sick could be treated in their communities. The plan backfired. Many of the mentally ill are being arrested for misdameanors and are languishing behind bars. Jail personnel can't force medicate inmates, no matter how sick. And inmates can’t go before a judge if they are deemed unable to understand their charges. Institutions spend more than $40,000 per month per jail on pshycotripic meds.
