In California, 37% of the prison population has serious mental health needs, over 50% of people in county jails face mental illness, and 30% of inmates in L.A. County are on psych meds or housed in mental health units. But these numbers are misleading—because prison punishes vulnerability. In general population, asking for help can make you a target. Most stay silent. Trauma gets buried. Pain goes unseen. The system only counts what’s reported—not what’s real. We’re not under