How mental health affects the crime rates in Missoula County

Missoula, Mt (KGVO-AM News) – The Missoula County public prosecutor Submitted 16 new crime complaints this week, which are nine less than last week and exactly on a weekly average. According to the district lawyer Matt Jennings, there were four violent crimes, a risk of hazard, seven ownership crimes and four drug crimes.

“Four of the crimes we charged this week were all directly with people in a crisis for mental health,” said Jennings. “I am a broken recording about it, but we have a broken psychological health system in the state of Montana. We often know the risk factors that people prompt to involve dangerous criminal behavior.

Jennings said it was heartbreaking to see how the same people keep getting into difficulties because he believes that we know how we can prevent these crimes. He said we just don't put the resources on it and give people the support they need.

“We need more psychiatric beds in Missoula,” said Jennings. “Some of these have to be safe facilities. They have to be forensic, which means that they can handle violent people and sometimes people.

Jennings said these resources are inexpensive, and that was her biggest obstacle.

“We spend a fortune on the criminal side and surrounded ourselves with things after they have happened,” said Jennings. “It is far cheaper to deal with it, but we have not yet been able to move this idea together in the state of Montana. I hope that some of the legislators' discussions and financing can make a difference over time, but they will take a lot of work.”

Jennings also emphasized an attempt that completed this week.

“Yanbin Bao was convicted of four charges of sex trade and an indictment point of the work trade, “said Jennings. 93 S. Women from other countries and all over the country were brought in to provide these sex services basically. They were forced. They were kept under pressure and compulsion.

Read more: Couple for human trafficking in Missoula charged

Jennings said that he could not be proud of his public prosecutor's team, which this has led to a culprit judgment, and he really appreciates the jurors for the progress and execution of their non -profit service.

Read more: In the procedure against Yanbin Bao: A case of sex trade in Missoula

The Missoula County public prosecutor offers a weekly crime report about speeches every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. You can hear Jennings's full report below: