The overall prison population in the United States continues to shrink, with a smaller population held in both state and federal facilities. Unexpectedly, however, the older adult population in prisons has revealed a growing trend since the past fifteen years. A larger population continues to die in prisons out of old age conditions while most prisons have their old age population bulging each day. A recent release by the Bureau of Justice indicated that a population of more than 200,000 people who are aged 55 years or older are incarcerated and still serve their sentences (Greene, Ahalt, Stijacic-Cenzer, Metzger, & Williams, 2018). It is also projected that this population will occupy more than a third of jail population by 2030. The aged population in prisons faces diverse problems that could otherwise be evaded by initiating policy options such as compassionate release.
Problems
The rise in the elderly population in U.S prisons is broadly attributed to two key issues. The first reason is the increasing population of the elderly adults within the general United States population. The population of seniors in the U.S is approximated at 47.8 million, which is approximately 15 percent of the total population. Their population, however, is expected to rise up to 21 percent by 2030 (Greene, Ahalt, Stijacic-Cenzer, Metzger, & Williams, 2018). Another reason attributed to high population of incarcerated adults across U.S prisons is the emergence of stricter sentences and parole policies in the justice system. Due to their notably detailed criminal backgrounds, incarcerated older adults tend to land life sentences as a result of enhanced prison terms following multiple trials. Another key challenge faced by the incarcerated older adults who ultimately near facing out their sentences is their abilities to transition back to into the society. Such issues would include ill health, incapability to engage in productive activities, cognitive impairment, as well as alienation from close old friends, relatives and the members of their communities.
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While within prison facilities, the incarcerated older population in the U.S prisons suffer a variety of health issues that the justice system grapple on mitigating. Such issues include severe mental health issues, social problems, and specific needs aligned to the geriatric population (Greene, Ahalt, Stijacic-Cenzer, Metzger, & Williams, 2018). Of these challenges, health, mental health, and addiction are of critical concern among the older adult prisoners. Studies have revealed that these groups of prisoners also have higher prevalence to chronic illnesses such as the heart disease and HIV/AIDS compared to younger incarcerated population (Maschi & Aday, 2014). In addition to mental health issues, inadequate physical health and the stressful jail conditions, older adult prisoners are highly prevalent to other chronic illnesses. Dementia, for example, is frequently reported among county and federal prisons.
Research, paired with self-confession also bears that the incarcerated older adults are the leading victims of social isolation, especially among those who have limited contact with their families, or counseling professionals. There have been reports of minimal or no contact with marital partners, parents, children, or siblings as well as occasional contact with medical staff, psychologists or social workers. Severe implications therefore accrue, especially for maintaining both health and well-being of senior prisoners, as well as the necessary adjustments needed prior to their release.
The incarcerated older population is also faced with the challenge of their destinations, even when they are released. When compassionate releases are granted, the families of the incarcerated are informed. However, in often instances, it becomes difficult for some of them to establish residence since some may not have friends or families, or may lack treatment in some hospitals even if they were dying (Reece, 2019). The 60 West nursing facility in Connecticut transitioned from basic nursing home to a host for inmates who had been granted compassionate release in 2017. Since its establishment, states such as Kentucky and Wisconsin have established similar facilities.
The compassionate release policy option guides the release of sick and elderly inmates, and gives them a chance to spend their remaining time in environments separate from the prison cells. Compassionate release policy first came to picture in the 1970s, guaranteeing release to inmates eligible for immediate release from jails on the grounds of specific compelling reasons that would otherwise not be detected by the court as sentence was awarded (Maschi, 2018). The guidelines provided within this policy allow for a timely release of terminally sick or aging prisoners. As a result, such individuals are granted the opportunity to die under the love and care of their loved ones.
All 50 U.S States, except Iowa have formulated and enacted laws that related to the compassionate release policy. However, there are considerable differences between State versions of the policy. California and Maryland, for example have defined the two aspects of compassionate separately, giving rise to two different policies. In both states, there is “geriatric release” which is quite from the actual “compassionate release ( Wylie, Knutson, & Greene, 2018) .” The former describes release administered to elderly or too aged individuals prior to their predicted deaths. Implementation of such policies is likely to save several older inmates from the existing issues within the prison.
Conclusion
A 300 percent increase in the population of elderly inmates has been documented since 1999, with their population expected to make up more than two-thirds the population (Greene, Ahalt, Stijacic-Cenzer, Metzger, & Williams, 2018). Increased population of elder inmates in U.S prisons is believed to be complicated crime background and lack of legal leniency. While in prison, this group is highly prevalent to a variety of health issues that the justice system grapple on mitigating, severe social isolation by family, friends and professionals, and lack of final destination even when released. Compassion release could be a significant approach to relieving them from such issues.
References
Greene, M., Ahalt, C., Stijacic-Cenzer, I., Metzger, L., & Williams, B. (2018). Older adults in jail: high rates and early onset of geriatric conditions. Health & Justice, 6 (3), 71-77. doi:10.1186/s40352-018-0062-9
Maschi, T. (2018). Incarcerated Older Adults . Retrieved from Giaging.org: https://www.giaging.org/issues/incarcerated-older-adults/
Maschi, T., & Aday, R. (2014). The social determinants of health and justice and the aging in prison crisis: A call to action. International Journal of Social Work, 1 (1), 1-15.
Reece, H. (2019, July 17). What Should We Do about Our Aging Prison Population? Retrieved from Daly JSTOR: https://daily.jstor.org/what-should-we-do-about-our-aging-prison-population/
Wylie, L. E., Knutson, A. K., & Greene, E. (2018). Extraordinary and compelling: The use of compassionate release laws in the United States. NE, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
