They are de facto mental hospitals

Regarding the Sept. 7 article, “Mental health problems are widespread in U.S. prisons”:

I wonder how many are aware that our prisons are de facto mental hospitals. In the 1970s an ’80s, large mental hospitals were closed with the assumption that people would be cared for by the “community.” Never happened.

Only 80,000 patients are housed in psychiatric facilities, but about 444,000 certified diagnosed mentally ill people are doing time behind bars. Many do not have access to proper medication and treatment and often are “housed” in separate, solitary units.

Rather than solving this social problem, we just lock these people away. Another blaring example of our unjust “dumb on crime” policies. Indeed, changes are needed.

Lea Zengage

Lake Stevens