[Daho0n]

The Nordic countries also deinstitutionalized but they are light-years ahead of most other countries in tackling this problem (though still far off the goal). The biggest problem is that you simply cannot get something like it through the political system in the US: Humane prisons that are there to rehabilitate instead of parking or punishment, actual free healthcare all the way through the system, state-run centers that provide shelter, food, social helpers, etc. (that isn't just parking people with a roof over their head to hide the problem). I don't believe for a second any of this would have the interest of (enough) voters or a snowballs chance in hell of passing politicians as long as An Eye For An Eye and The American Dream are still there. They are IMO incompatible with such a humane system.

[kmonsen]

There was this bbc show were they host was trying to find the most humane method of capital punishment. He found a few that would be acceptable.

He tried to introduce them in Texas, they were like the whole point is that they suffer.

Edit: I think it was this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband...