According to the Washington Post in December of 2001, "The number of people with serious mental illness in America's jails and prisons today is five times greater than the number in state mental hospitals. Prisons, as an observer, of similar trends in Australia have noted, "the new asylums of the 21st century." The criminalization of the mentally ill is inhumane. It is also emotionally and financially costly, and a testament to government failures at all levels." Less and less treatment is given to inmates of whom are in need while each year, the cost to house, feed, and clothe these inmates goes up in the mal-funded institutions due to the lack of funding and care at federal, state, and local levels.
             With the lack of funding, treatment, staffing, and care at all governmental levels my partner and I stand resolved that the United States federal government should substantially increase public health services for mental health in the United States.
             United States: The 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, and Alaska.
             Federal Government: The United States ruling body based in Washington D.C
             Substantially increase: To enlarge to a great extent or expand the amount of
             Public health: The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of a community, as by preventive medicine, health education, control of communicable diseases, providing psychological treatment, application of sanitary measures, and monitoring of environmental hazards.
             Mental health: A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.
             Prison: A place or condition of confinement or forcible restraint
             According to Sibulkin Kiesler of the center for Mental Health Services, since 1950, the number of psychiatric hospital patients has declined from 592,853 to 71,619 in 1994. In ...