The case was presented to a District Court commissioner, who approved charges of attempted suicide, reckless endangerment, and endangering his safety and the safety of his brother while intoxicated.

In Maryland, police officers present a case to a District Court commissioner, who reviews it to determine if sufficient probable cause exists to charge someone. The commissioner also can determine what those charges should be. Though they are judicial officers, most commissioners have no legal background.

[….]

Riley noted the state’s plea offer was for the man to plead guilty to one of the three counts, and he chose the attempted suicide charge.

The article does not say, but perhaps the terms of probation includes getting help for his issues.

At least I hope so.

This argument always confuses me: Let’s not punish someone for depression; let’s just imprison him*, possibly violate his bodily integrity**, and strip him of at least one of his inherent rights***! In what world is that not punishment?

*I know the term “hospitalize” is preferred, but if you cannot leave of your own accord, it’s a prison.

**I.e. force him to take medications.

***Obviously, I’m referring to the right to keep and bear arms.

not to mention money, after all, the prisons are just sitting there empty waiting to be used, right?