What to do with criminals who can’t reason?

There’s an interesting case going through the Palmer court system.

A man burned down his family’s home and afterward said God told him to do it.

He’s been evaluated by psychiatrists and been shown to have little to no ability to comprehend what is going on around him and therefore offers little help in his own defense. His retention of information is minuscule, the experts say.

Apparently he has suffered a couple of brain injuries that have affected his thinking and will for the rest of his life.

He has turned down a plea agreement that would get him less time — he’s already served more than a year since the crime — and face less severe charges. Unless he changes his mind, it’s possible he could face the full felony count, first-degree arson. That’s a crime that can add up to a lot of years in prison.

But he said again Thursday he wants to withdraw the plea deal.

The same day, in a written document, he called his defense attorney — probably the best in the public defender’s office — a “heathen servant of Satan.”

The point is, the judicial system doesn’t know quite how to deal with him. And the Department of Corrections doesn’t either, at least that’s what was said in court.

The judge handling the case is one of the best in the court system. He is courteous in explaining the options to the defendant, but it’s clear his words aren’t sinking in. The same with his attorney, who asked him what he wanted to do.

The man said he didn’t want to be convicted and he wants to be safe.

His family wants him home, and likely with some loving care, he could get through life.

But how safe would his family be? The first fire came when nobody was home. What if God speaks to him again and people die?

What is society to do with criminals who can’t help defend themselves, but who have been driven to commit crimes?

Prison is no place for him. He is obviously vulnerable, and maybe that’s why he says he wants to be safe.

The possibility that he can be rehabilitated is negligible at best, the experts say. So does this 29-year-old live his life in a psychiatric ward?

This is a case when the judge, the defense and even those charged with prosecuting the man earn their pay.

Justice will be hard to find in this one.