Who is paying??? Probably the taxpayer.
The outcome of “criminally insane” cases can be scary. A couple of years ago, about 60 miles from here, a fellow on a Greyhound Bus killed and beheaded another passenger. He was found insane and committed to a provincial hospital about a half hour from here – it is in the centre of a small town. He is now allowed to walk on the grounds and his lawyer was requesting day passes for him. His doctors actually feel that he is ready for this move but there was such an uproar from the neighbouring citizens that the judge ruled against it. I think that it won’t be long before they pronounce him completely cured and discharge him. What happens when he once again stops taking his meds and begins hearing voices? What will he do next? I think about the victim and his family. A promising young man of about 22 was wiped out because he happened to take the same bus. I realize that these type of killings are different than shooting someone during a crime and the perps really are sick, but there has to be a better system. How many of you have stopped taking a medication because you didn’t remember or didn’t like the side effects? The side effects of anti-psychotic medications and the like are horrendous and a great number of patients discontinue them on their own. We are just lucky that most people with mental health issues do not go on to commit crimes. I don’t know what the answer is but I am just plain afraid that too many “cured” people are walking amongst us.