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Summary
Currently, the United States (US) prisons have a large number of elderly prisoners. Countrywide, the population of aging prisoners, has grown by about 75% in the last decade (Rushing, 2010, n.pag).
Such trends are significantly notable in some states. For instance, at Joseph Harp Correctional Center in Lexington, Oklahoma, there are 250 elderly and physically challenged offenders. In the same center, inmates aged 50 years and above are 3,700, which is 200% increase since last decade. Notably, the elderly population of inmates will continue to increase by 40% per year.
Numerous aspects influence the presence of a large population of elderly inmates in prisons. The increased number of elderly inmates is partly due to the introduction of longer sentences in the 1970s and 1980s as US took a tough approach to crime (Rushing, 2010, n.pag). Commissioner Justin Jones believes that the enhancement of punishments which 85% of laws requiring an offender to serve 35% of the sentence before being eligible for parole is a major cause of the increased elderly inmate population (Rushing, 2010, n.pag). Again, governors (as politicians) do not want to be seen as soft on crime, and thus they tend to decline to grant parole to appease their electorate. Additionally, some inmates with medical parole cannot leave prison due to the lack of care outside prison.
Underlying Issues
The presence of a large number of elderly inmates in prisons is economically detrimental since the cost of housing elderly prisoners is expensive (Williams et al., 2012, p.2). Statistically, an elderly inmate costs $70,000, which is three times than young offenders. Higher costs relate to their health problems, functional disabilities, mental illness and major diseases. For instance, in Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York, most of the inmates who are the average of 63 years old have dementia and Eczema disorder (Rushing, 2010, n.pag).
In Oklahoma, the department of corrections is currently facing the challenging of increasing costs associated with rising costs associated with elderly population. To curb increasing costs, Oklahoma is relying on volunteers such as retired professionals, preachers, community workers and volunteer prisoners.
On the other hand, New York has built a unit for elderly individuals. Other states will be required to build similar units for the sake of deteriorating mental capacity of increasing elderly. However, with costs above $100,000 per elderly inmate, governments do not have instant funds to fund such units (Rushing, 2010, n.pag).
Solution to the Increasing Elderly Prisoners
To mitigate over the increase of elderly inmate population in correctional centers, the inmates who have attained an age of 55 years should be released. However, other caveats such as public safety, medical condition, supervision and area restrictions should apply during their release (Chiu, 2010, p.6).
After their release, their respective correctional center will be entitled to follow ups especially those relating to medical conditions and behavior in general for two years. This solution is will pose a major problem to the correctional facility. For instance, some individuals may refuse to leave the correctional facility because they do not have someone to take care of them. Besides, taking care and monitoring the behaviors and health conditions of released inmates is extremely difficult and logistically challenging.
Support of the Solution
The release of elderly inmates is associated with several benefits. For instance, correctional facilities will cut down the expenditures associated with elderly health problems, functional disabilities, mental illness and major diseases. Statistically, one released elderly inmate can sustain three young inmates financially (Rushing, 2010, n.pag).
Besides, the release of elderly individuals will not pose much threat to the society since most of are harmless. Besides, at that age, many inmates are still healthy and thus they can positively contribute to the society (Rushing, 2010, n.pag). For instance, Kevin Bartley, an inmate in Otisville Correctional Facility has a master’s degree in theology, which upon release, he can teach in learning institutions (Rushing, 2010, n.pag).
After serving long jail terms, released prisoners tend to struggle due to the aspects such as stigma, low employment rate, re-arrests and lack of income (Freudenberg et la., 2005, p.1725). For the release of long-term prisoners to be successful, prisoners need to be prepared as early as possible.
First, when prisoners reach the age of 45 years, the correctional centers should enroll them in voluntary work in places such as stores library and infirmary where they can intermingle with people. Towards the end of their jail term, the elderly should be exposed to environments that encourage them to use their skills like community work.
References
Chiu, T. (2010). It’s about time: Aging prisoners, increasing costs, and geriatric release. New York, New York State: Vera Institute of Justice.
Freudenberg, N., Daniels, J., Crum, M., Perkins, T., & Richie, B. E. (2005). Coming home from jail: The social and health consequences of community reentry for women, male adolescents, and their families and communities. Am J Public Health, 95(10): 1725–1736.
Rushing, J. (2010). Dying inside: Elderly in prison. Aljazeera: Fault Lines. Web.
Williams, B. A., Goodwin, D. S., Baillargeon, V., Ahalt, C., & Walter, L. C. (2012). Addressing the aging crisis in U.S. criminal justice healthcare. J Am Geriatr Soc, 60(6): 1150–1156.
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