Los Angeles County Judge Speaks Out On Need For Mental Health Treatment Facilities Instead of Jails

On May 4, 2014, The Los Angeles Times printed this commentary by Los Angeles County Superior Court Terry Smerling, calling for a change in a current program to build a special jail for the Mentally Ill, and instead developing treatment programs.  Judge Smerling states that he has “seen firsthand that jail is an inappropriate place for many of the mentally ill defendants who end up there. Being incarcerated is likely to exacerbate mental health problems and to increase the likelihood that inmates will commit new crimes upon their release.”  The full article is listed here:  http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-smerling-mental-illness-jails-20140505-story.html