U.S. Jails: Mental Health Clinics On A Perpetual Coffee Break

In the U.S., defendants must understand their charges—apparently a concept tougher than IKEA furniture assembly—for court trials to proceed. Yet thousands who reportedly can’t grasp their legal soap operas get VIP passes to jail cells instead of waiting rooms for mental health treatment. It’s like booking a therapy session at Alcatraz, where delays rival DMV timelines. Justice dances around incompetence claims, leaving those needing psychiatric care stuck in the world’s slowest escape room. Meanwhile, legal systems worldwide probably binge-watch this tragicomedy while trying not to cry. Spoiler alert: mental health isn’t loading anytime soon.

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Source: Themarshallproject | Published: 9/6/2025 | Author: Cary Aspinwall