Having free afternoon I went a few days ago to the court to watch the public trials. In the room I went there four cases tried of the poor defendants with the same assigned lawer. All four cases were decided WITHIN ONE HOUR.
The one was against a clearly mentally sick man. He looked rather nice and friendly, was moving his body back and forth and his hands were in handcuffs. Judge (a woman) looked a him and asked if he was on the medication. He answer "no, you honor". She asked, "were you ever treated in the psychiatric institution", he said "yes, your honor".
To make it short, "his" lawyer wispered with the judge and prosecutors and then whispered with the defendant, the defendant asserted that he resigns from jury trial etc. He admitted that he believed the police report to be true (he did not remembered the actual event).
Judge asked if he is satisfied with the deal between prosecutor and defense, the defendant said "yes, your honor". And he was sentenced to the six months in jail. He looked quite happy and walked out escorted. The judge looked relieved, looked around the room and sighed.
What was his offence? He was homeless and "lived" around the subway station. One day he undressed himself publicly over there and got arrested.
Very sad how the system just throws these people away. You have to hope he will get the help he needs on the inside. That could go either way though. If they don't segregate him or put him in a special area with treatment, well I am sure you can imagine it will not do him any good.