text: Actually, the better community-level services are, the less need there is for more locked-ward placement.  Yes, there will always be some need for secure forensic placement.  However, many of those individuals, had they received adequate community-level treatment and support would not have committed the crimes which led to their commitment.  The best mental health care is timely, proactive care and support provided before the mental illness progresses to the behavior leading to commitment.  That's the "missing piece" in our mental health care system.  We need to recognize it and be willing to provide it.  We're doing neither and we've got hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individuals "on our streets" who need and deserve our care and support.  Gary Crum