My dad (who grew up in the 1930s of Alabama) made the observation around three decades ago, that it didn’t take much for a county judge to apprehend a ‘nutcase’.
You’d write a letter describing the person, and have two relatives sign the letter. The judge would send deputies over and have the guy/gal appear. If you went lousy with this interview....they’d deliver you to a state facility for 30 days of control.
That one letter and two relatives were all it took. Judges didn’t waste any effort...if you weren’t safe to allow into the general public....you didn’t remain with the general public.
Not anymore. Britney spears is an example. She had to hold her kid hostage before amything could be done. Amanda bynes had to set her dog on fire. The writer clearly has never dealt with a real life example.
Aaron carter is yet another example.
I have dealt with it. VA workers were actually able to get someone to the hospital in a full blown paranoia attack..only to have that person released. No one could believe it..fortunately it didnt end in tragedy
I think the move away from locking people up in lunatic asylums is part of the reason we have more dangerously mentally ill wandering the streets like ticking time bombs. That is why you didn’t have mass shooting incidents even when guns where easier to get hold of.