Progress...

I did more research on the history of state hospitals, why they got shut down, and the effects of deinstitutionalization. Deinstitutionalization began in 1955 after the introduction of the first effective antipsychotic medication. Deinstitutionalization had two stages: moving people out of the institutions and then closing parts of all of the institutions. This created a huge crisis because those released could not be guaranteed necessary care to live in the community or medication. Not only did it negatively impact those released at the time, but those who became ill after had no access to public mental health care. Deinstitutionalization was also based off the idea that mental illness should be treated in less restrictive settings and different treatment philosophies. I have not yet found sources for different arguments or views on how mentally ill inmates should be treated.