A judge has sentenced a San Diego woman to 9 years in prison, for pulling a gun on a barber and trying to shoot him. That seems about right...try to kill someone, go to prison.
But is it the whole story?
According to her attorney, Adrian Swain is schizophrenic. She was born addicted to drugs.
She apparently believed that the design carved into her hair was picking up signals, or something to that effect.
If she is ill, why aren't we sending her to a hospital instead of a prison? Have we committed a miscarriage of justice?
If her attorney is right, and Ms. Swain is mentally ill, shame on us.
If she isn't then the appropriate sentence was handed down.
I have a feeling that her illness is demonstrable, in which case, we need to do a lot better for her, and others like her, than we are now.
LH