Once the mental institutions were closed incarceration rates increased dramatically. It's fairly safe to conclude we're treating the mentally ill as criminals. It reminds me of The Onion article, '15 Years In Environment Of Constant Fear Somehow Fails To Rehabilitate Prisoner': http://www.theonion.com/articles/15-years-in-environment-of-...

Or the process of releasing those in need of treatment during the 80's. Its amazing how we're capable of so much as a society but can't get it together to help those most in need.

(Interesting piece from the time on how it came about that the mental hospitals started being emptied: http://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/30/science/how-release-of-men...)