I’ve written a good deal about the damage that modern psychiatry has done to mankind. But it’s very much a crisis in this country, and it’s been for some time

The role of modern psychiatry in freeing violent offenders is often ignored, but it’s very much a crisis in this country, says Julian Zelizer .

Left-wing prosecutors have found a kind of hack that enables them to release extremely dangerous criminals, even when their guilt is beyond any doubt.

They could release some of the most dangerous and depraved criminals on the planet.

Frida Ghitis : It's unthinkable to think that a cannibal killer would be released from an insane asylum.

She says the decision was made during a hearing in which Tyree Smith was n’t even present.

Ghitis says a psychiatrist testified that Smith has recovered. He is a reformed cannibal. His axe murdering days are behind him. He's better now, Ghitis writes.

Frida Ghitis : The Connecticut psychiatric board is releasing an axe murderer cannibal back into society.

She says the idea that he belongs in civilized society is only appealing if you sympathize more with killers than victims.

Ghitis says even if he's cured of his schizophrenia and murderous tendencies, he should be sent to a maximum-security prison.