An exercise in futility

The title of a recent editorial in the Tallahassee Democrat says it all: "Incarerating mentally ill is futile."

"The cost in human suffering by the ill person, by his or her family and any victims is no doubt equaled by the cost to the state when it uses self-defeating systems. Even on county levels, authorities such as Leon County's Sheriff Larry Campbell decry the current system as ineffective, with no end of costs in sight, but no real improvements either."