The rates of schizophrenia amongst males and females is about the same (1.2:1), so why are so many males with schizophrenia put in jail.

Interesting question, HRS. I'm hoping the author is reading the comments, as I'm sure there are accepted explanations for the disparity in sex ratios of schizophrenic prisoners.

Meanwhile, at $161.40 per prisoner per day, the arithmentic shows that a year of prison, at 365.25 days per year, adds up to $58,951.35 per prisoner. Say $60k per prisoner per year, for a round figure estimate.

An analysis of who profits by the prison system would be interesting to me. Some measure of immediate protection is provided to the wider community, but at what cost, and to who else's benefit?

And even with the tragic situation of the prisons being filled with these people some still want to legalise drugs which often trigger schizophrenia. I could say that almost without exception the dozens of people suffering schizophrenia that I know are or have been drug takers.

I'd have to agree with the idea that main stream prisons are not the place for the mentally ill. They are not designed for this purpose and so form an inefficient and ineffective solution to the problem.

HRS: Considering the 13.2:1 ratio of the overall jail population from yesterday's elephant article, the cases of schizophrenia a comparatively gender neutral.

runner: One has to wonder if the correlation between drugs and mental illness is perhaps due people being unable to deal with the symptoms and societies attitude towards them and turning to drugs as a way to escape?

60,000 a year to keep someone in jail?

a lot of the people in there would obey the law for 40,000 a year. we seem to be missing a bet.

Brilliant idea, Runner. But how about putting the harshest penalties on the drugs that kill the most people? Alcohol and tobacco would be the best place to start, and mandatory sentencing for possession would not go astray either. Better get rid of those coldies....

The mentally disabled get disgraceful treatment because they lack a voice. Sadly the jailed patients are generally getting a better deal than many of the free ones. Mandatory standards of care with criminal penalties for breaches may be the only means to stop the appalling and ongoing abuse of these vulnerable and dependent people.

Surely there are more ethical ways to save a few bucks?