14 is just too young. I can't accept throwing away the key on children

[TBF]

27. My experience wasn't quite as poignant -

but I did work in a short-term psychiatric unit for awhile. We had everyone from age 6-elderly (whether very troubled autistic child, teenage behavioral issues, chemically dependent, depressed, eating disorders, severe alzheimers). We kept them 1-3 months, tried to get them on the right meds, talk therapy, and then discharge to home or the next appropriate facility.

Some of the saddest things were the number of foster kids (teens) who had been both physically and sexually abused, at least one adult eating disorder who eventually died in long-term care, and a teenage wrestler who accidentally killed someone in a match (it was truly an accident & it caused a psychotic break - he also went on to long-term state care).

It is very sad but some people just do not get better. I would hesitate to execute or throw away the key on this young man but like you nolabear I would also be hesitant to release him for a good long while if ever. This is why mental health funding, and particularly long-term care funding, is so very important.