Essay On Elderly In Prison

Why is it that they are keeping elderly inmates in prison who are bedridden? The elderly population in prison is increasing at a staggering rate and its becoming a nightmare. “The Justice Department’s internal watchdog analyzed that the Bureau of Prisons has been most often unable to provide adequate and humane housing and care for elderly inmates” (Price). The result of mass incarceration and strict sentencing strategy at the federal and state level. Elderly prisoners necessitate more expensive care at a time when they are danger to the community at large decline. By 2030 one third of all incarcerated individuals will be over the age of fifty-five. The regression rate for adults over the age of sixty-five is four percent, although compassionate release laws are not often used. The majority of people in prison are so frail because of old age or illnesses that elderly offenders can barely walk. One of the biggest health care problems facing corrections does not revolve a particular disease, but rather the population. Elderly inmates with numerous health complications commonly cost correction facilitates thousands of dollars each year. Health care for aging inmates is at least twice as costly than for younger offenders due to the population. Elderly offenders have more health problems and require additional medical care, they require longer and more frequent hospitalizations, and they also need care outside of the prison system additionally this represents seventy-two percent of health care costs spent on elderly offenders. The number of elderly inmates who fall into this classification are rapidly increasing. Elderly prisoners with documented medical needs or who reveal symptoms that require diagnoses can wait months for medical appointments. “Other elderly inmates with limited mobility are housed in over populated facilities and are forced to climb to upper bunk beds due to lower ones that have been assigned already, or navigate stairs to access their handicapped cells” (Price). By the time a person turns fifty the chance for that person to commit another crime has decreased precipitously. What do facilities gain from keeping elderly offenders behind bars at an immense cost when these offenders can’t no longer commit any danger to the community when their released? Thousands of elderly offenders who have been convicted in the War on Drugs during the 1980s and …show more content…
In my perspective, I believe that the State and Federal officials should review the elderly sentencing and release policies that determine which could adapt to bring down the growing population of elderly prisoners without risking any public safety. In addition to this I also believe that expanding comprehensive plans for medical care, housing and programs that will help them and projected populations for elderly offenders. Not to mention, they need to modify prison facility rules that impose undesired hardships on elderly prisoners. Prison facility’s, regulations and rules, were created by younger inmates in mind. They can constitute special hardships for inmates who are well in years. Climbing up to a top bunk bed, walking long distances, or standing while counts can be effectively impossible for the majority of older offenders. Corrections Officials should review and evaluate the conditions of confinement for their elderly inmates, incorporate the programs and services obtainable for them, not only that, but make changes as required to ensure their human rights are