Of course it’s not that simple. That’s why, after people are institutionalized and treated, they’re gradually given more and more freedom in structured settings - eg halfway houses, work release, house arrest with family - to make sure the treatment is working and the person is ready to be a functional member of society again.

It works that way in a country that actually cares about people, anyway. No guarantees if you’re in the United States.

But the point is - or should be - that punishing people for acts they’re not responsible for is both cruel and meaningless. The mentally ill person, once cured, shouldn’t remain confined as punishment for crimes he committed while ill. The criminal, once rehabilitated, shouldn’t remain confined for crimes he committed while ignorant and immature. In both cases, the goal of an enlightened system should be to return the person to society as quickly as possible and give them the tools they need to function as a valuable and productive member of society. Locking someone up for life benefits no one except the prison industry.