St. Louis on the Air Lost in Missouri jail cells: Why a backlog of defendants deemed mentally unfit for trial persists
Nov 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, journalist Jesse Bogan from The Marshall Project sheds light on the harrowing backlog of over 500 defendants in Missouri deemed mentally unfit for trial. He delves into the alarming case of Megan Jolly, who has spent nearly two years behind bars, caught in a system lacking adequate treatment beds. Bogan explains the lengthy evaluation processes, discusses the stark consequences of such delays, and illustrates the emotional toll on families as he uncovers the systemic neglect facing these vulnerable individuals.
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Systemwide Bed Shortage Causes Long Delays
- Missouri routinely lacks enough inpatient beds to restore defendants' competency, producing long jail waits.
- The state reports being "continually at absolute bed capacity" and averages 14 months to reach a treatment bed.
Court Orders Don't Remove Jail Time
- Once a judge orders competency restoration, defendants commonly remain jailed while waiting for a treatment bed.
- Jesse Bogan reports the average wait to reach a treatment bed is about 14 months in Missouri.
Backlog Exploded Since 2013
- The backlog has ballooned: about 10 people waited in 2013 versus roughly 500 by 2023.
- Increased requests for evaluations and fewer state hospital placements partly explain the surge, officials and reporters say.