I am a retired clinical social worker who worked for the Illinois Department of Mental Health for 20 years.

The uproar in the U.S. of how black people are treated by the criminal system, brings to mind how the mentally ill are also treated; many of which are black. Our system is funded to lock people up with drug problems and mental health issues. Finally, Sangamon County established a drug court, but I am not sure about a mental health court. Instead of taking nonviolent mentally ill or addicted offenders to prison, they need to be immediately taken to treatment programs.

Inmates rarely receive treatment in the prison system. Many don’t have the money budgeted. Many correctional officers are kind, but many officers don’t have proper training. Without resources this is impossible.

One famous Jewish leader said, “If you will it, it is no dream.”

Joel H. Abramowitz, Springfield