The police state is no substitute for competent, caring mental institutions

I had emergency surgery at Rhode Island Hospital last November and I thought the nursing staff was wonderful ( if overworked ) . We read every day about tragedy of the neglected mentall ill in " OUR democracy " . The real problem began decades ago with this not so " progressive " idea of de-institutionalizing the mentally ill. No surprise that so many became out of control , homeless, and violent. The police state cannot substitute for competent , caring mental health institutions. Jail or ACI is no place to recover from insanity.