There's an incredible documentary you can (sometimes) find on YouTube, though the video is poor quality. It's The Cramps playing the Napa State Mental Hospital in 1978.
The narration explains the context. The place used to be self-sufficient, and it was available for anyone who just didn't have the mental/emotional fortitude to make it in society. They grew their own food, made their own clothes. There seemed to be a general respect for the people there as human beings. Then Reagan came along, saw a profit opportunity, and privatized the shit out of it with contracts for his cronies. Ultimately, he decided those places should just be defunded, and we all know that policy won the day during his presidency. It's sad shit. I get that it's only one side of the story, but never forget Reagan's assholery.
And it's really quite something to see the wards of the hospital interacting up close and personal with the band.