wrote:
On Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:38:18 -0500, BAR wrote:

Your "guy around the corner" sounds like someone who is a drug addict
and who gets out of control but is not judged a threat to others. A
"Baker Act" commitment is for 72 hours, after which a judge determines
if cause can be demonstrated for a longer commitment. If not, as is
usually the case, the individual is released.

Thirty times in 10 years is a pattern. The guy is not right in the head.

The cops have been there three times in the last 2 days and left
without him every time.
I don't think anything will be done until he kills someone or one of
my neighbors shoots him.
The seven years was up and he just got his driver's license back after
felony DUI so it will probably be someone on the road who gets it with
his pickup.

I guess the real question is exactly what you do. I don't think anyone
has actually been "cured" of mental illness. They can drug the people
into a compliant stupor but as soon as they stop taking the drug, they
are back to crazy, maybe even worse than before. The drugs also seem
to lose effectiveness over the years.
Are we really talking about a gulag mentality where they round up all
the people someone thinks are "mentally ill" and lock them up?

"Outpatient services" is really just a drug dispensary and the problem
is the patients are not real good about taking their drugs.

You are grossly overstating the problems here. Many mental illnesses can be
controlled with therapy and sometimes with therapy and medications. You are
giving the impression that if you have a mental illness your outlook is
forever dim. Many people with mental illnesses Are creative and productive
members of society. Your prejudices are really out there.