text: In principle the prison authorities are responsible for medical and dental care of incarcerated persons. In fact, most (at least most non-federal) institutions give abysmal care.\n\nIt is well known that states abolished their mental hospitals and now use their prisons instead to warehouse them. It's a modern tragedy, taking us back to Bedlam days.\n\nThere's quite a bit online about the specific issue your question asks. See, for example http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/14_PsychHospitals.asp and do a Google search of your own.