Missouri Jails Housing Too Many Mentally Ill Inmates
June 9, 2023 6:32AM CDT
(MISSOURINET) – A committee formed by the Missouri Association of Counties is working to find solutions to help get mentally ill people treatment, rather than incarceration. Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett (PEW-it), a member of that committee, says on any given day Missouri jails could be holding 190 to 200 mentally ill inmates as they wait for beds in mental health facilities…
Puett says the committee strives to find ways to help get these inmates proper care that county jails aren’t equipped to provide.
