The Anchorage Daily News on Feb. 16 reported that a man who was released from custody because he was declared incompetent to stand trial later stabbed a woman, apparently at random, at the Loussac Library.
Trying to protect somebody in the court system should not include releasing violent individuals who have committed a crime, even if they have a mental illness.
A woman living on the streets or in shelters, or couch surfing — it is estimated they will have a 90% chance of being sexually or physically assaulted within one year. Not many assault victims will file a complaint, believing they will not be helped. That belief is my opinion — the state may have a different opinion, except they do not keep many statistics.
The state of Alaska has had the opportunity and the finances to establish psychiatric facilities to care for hard to place psychiatric patients. Alaska is missing every opportunity to set up proper psychiatric facilities and the average citizens are paying the price, including those with a mental illness.
— Dorrance Collins
Anchorage
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