California's mentally ill inmate population keeps growing. And state money isn't enough to meet needs, lawmaker says

Los Angeles Times
Media Coverage

California's mentally ill inmate population keeps growing. And state money isn't enough to meet needs, lawmaker says

By Jazmine Ulloa

Gov. Jerry Brown has earmarked $117 million in his new state budget to expand the number of treatment beds and mental health programs for more than 800 mentally ill inmates found incompetent to stand trial.

State officials said they have struggled to keep up with the needs of a population that has jumped in size by 33% over the last three years, as judges are increasingly referring defendants to treatment. But one state lawmaker says additional funds are not enough...