You ever work in one of those state institutions? I did.
There was definitely abuse of every kind and palm greasing if the estate of the person being locked up was coveted by someone with power and money was not unknown.
Don’t romanticize the past. State-run institution have a bad reputation for a reason. Lack of accountability and vast sums of government money attract the worst elements of the human race.
Look at what crap goes on in the foster care system still today, do you really think the system for caring for the mentally ill and mentally incompetent (most of the institutionalized were abandoned retarded people, not mentally ill) who generally cannot effectively advocate and protect themselves was any better?
Better?
Sure there were abuses back then. But how is our mental health system any better these days with the millions of patients who should be in a facility but are instead left to roam the streets and terrorize society?