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Quotation from O'Connor v. Donaldson by Supreme Court of the United States
“In short, the idea that States may not confine the mentally ill except for the purpose of providing them with treatment is of very recent origin, and there is no historical basis for imposing such a limitation on state power.”
O'Connor v. Donaldson, Concurrence of Chief Justice Burger (excerpt), Part II-A (U.S. Reports text (Wikisource))
Chief Justice Burger, after reviewing the history of custodial care, rejects the appeals court's theory of a constitutional right to treatment.
Citation: "In short, the idea that States may not confine the mentally ill except for the purpose of providing them with treatment is of very recent origin, and there is no historical basis for imposing such a limitation on state power." — Supreme Court of the United States, O'Connor v. Donaldson, Concurrence of Chief Justice Burger (excerpt), Part II-A (U.S. Reports text (Wikisource)). (id oconnor-v-donaldson-q6)
Portrait: US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart - 1976 official portrait, Robert S. Oakes, Public domain.
