Gubernatorial Candidate Aric Nesbitt Proposes Expansion of State Psychiatric Hospitals to Address Jail Overcrowding and Crime

GOP candidate Aric Nesbitt's anti-crime plan calls for new psychiatric hospitals to move mentally ill individuals out of Michigan jails and off the streets.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 5:03 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Bridge Michigan.

The Deinstitutionalization Crisis in Michigan

During a recent roundtable in Grand Rapids, Senate Minority Leader and gubernatorial hopeful Aric Nesbitt argued that four decades of deinstitutionalization have inadvertently fueled crime and homelessness. Nesbitt contends that law enforcement agencies are currently forced to manage mental health crises without the necessary medical infrastructure. By expanding the number of state psychiatric hospitals, Nesbitt aims to provide long term institutionalization for individuals who cannot safely reside in adult foster care but do not belong in the criminal justice system.

Current Capacity and the Mental Health Bed Gap

Michigan currently faces a significant deficit in mental health resources. As of 2023, the state has only 497 psychiatric hospital beds, which translates to approximately five beds per 100,000 residents. According to data from the Treatment Advocacy Center, this is roughly one tenth of the capacity required to provide adequate care for the population. Advocates and law enforcement officials note that while the state has invested $325 million in a new facility in Plymouth, that project will only result in a net gain of 54 beds, leaving a substantial gap in the system.

Jails as De Facto Mental Health Facilities

County sheriffs from Allegan, Berrien, and Cass counties joined Nesbitt to highlight the operational strain caused by the bed shortage. Local officials reported that individuals found incompetent to stand trial often remain in county jails for up to six months waiting for a state bed to become available. Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker noted that when a crisis occurs in the middle of the night, jail is often the only available destination, despite it not being an appropriate environment for psychiatric stabilization.