crime.... blame GOP

[billlll]

Grim Sleeper etc.....
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GOP cut nation's mental health funding 93 percent since 1980.


IMHO that is why heinous crimes happen so much nowadays.
See Pete Early's book "Crazy........"
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I recall one state had its

criminally insane asylum beds cut in half

...said the local ppr about 1990. Can anyone verify this appalling stat? I myself find it incredible. Hard to believe! Anyone?

[louis-t]

1. Our former repug governor closed the largest

state mental facilities to save $ and still ran up a $4 billion debt. Edit for link.

http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/pontiac/

[billlll]

2. criminally insane asyl's too? nt

......

[NoNothing]

3. Cause or effect?

I'd say O'Connor v. Donaldson in 1977 was a pretty big factor.

Basically it held that statutes which allowed people to be involuntarily committed simply because they were "weird" were unconstitutional. To be committed, it has to be *proved* that someone is a danger to themselves or others. Simply being "out of it" or "unstable" is not enough unless they are literally incapable of surviving on their own.

And for the record, crime is at fairly low historical levels - most of the violent mentally ill are simply sitting in prison instead.

[billlll]

4. Pete wrote book

Because son was a danger to himself yet dad hit resistance to getting son institutionalized. Told no room, IIRC.
Crime may be down but would be lower yet if robust help-funding. I recall crime here much MUCH higher than scandanavia