More than 500 Missourians await court-ordered mental health services, languishing in jails

By: Steph Quinn

Outlets: Missouri Independent

Published: February 5, 2026

Words: 616

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Body Text Preview

The number of Missourians waiting in jail for services from the state’s mental health department continues to rise, with a backlog of more than 500 people with stalled cases.

None of the people on the wait list have been convicted of the crime that led to their incarceration. They were found incompetent to stand trial due to mental health disorders or cognitive disabilities and court-ordered to receive treatment from the Missouri Department of Mental Health. …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us