Aging Prisoners: New Frontier for Research

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Aging Prisoners New Frontier for Research
Practice

• Ronald H. Aday, Ph.D.

Department of Sociology Middle Tennessee State
University Box 132, Murfreesboro, TN
37132 raday_at_mtsu.edu
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General Profile of Older Inmates
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Types of Older Inmates

• New Elderly Offender 1st incarcerated after age
  50
• Chronic Offenders multiple recidivist or career
  criminal
• Long-Termers serving 20 years sentenced
  before age 50

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Criminal Activity

• Almost 500,000 persons ages 50 arrested each
  year
• 17 involved in serious felonies murder, sex
  offenses, drugs, robbery, aggravated assault,
  burglary, larceny

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Criminal Activity (cont)

• 42.6 convicted over age 55 are for violent
  crimes, compared to 28.5 for ages 45-54.
• Common convictions of older offenders are for
  sexual crimes, homicide, aggravated assault

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Graying of American Prisons

• Current estimate 150,000 inmates over age 50 in
  state/federal prisons.
• Lifers and long-termers (20 yrs) make up 22.6
  of total state federal prison population.
• 2/3 of older inmates incarcerated for less than 5
  years. 1 in 4 behind bars for under a year.

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Growth Examples of 50 Prison Population

• Alabama (2001) 1925 (2006) 3167 (increase
  from 6.2 to 11.3 of total population
• Georgia (2001) 3426 (2006) 5588 (increase
  from 7.8 to 10 of total population

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Convergence of Trends

• Increasing numbers of older adults in general
  population
• Number of serious crimes committed by elderly
  citizens
• Massive increase in prison beds
• Shift to punitive response to crime
• Curtailment of early release

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Health Concerns of Older Inmates
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Factors Leading to Higher Health Care Expenditures
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Physical Health Issues

• 1/2 of Older Inmates reports their health as
  poor
• Prevalence of chronic health problems
  hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, cancer,
  emphysema, kidney problems, heart problems,
  sensory losses

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Physical Health Issues (cont)

• Older inmates report, on average, 3 chronic
  illnesses.
• New inmates have unrealistic expectations about
  prison health care.
• Functional health status of older inmates can
  deteriorate quickly

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Physical Health Issues (cont)

• Prison health mandates/costs
• Many have had little previous access to health
  care.
• Introducing managed care into the prison setting
• Emerging caregiving models

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Case of California

• In 2022, there will be at least 30,200 inmates 55
  and older compared to 7,580 now
• 1 out of 6 are lifers
• 17 suffer from severe mental illness

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Mental Health Issues

• Suffer from social losses and death of family
  members
• Grief reaction to losses (physical health, life
  without parole, etc.
• Anxiety disorders, emotional problems,
  alcohol/drug abuse
• Older Inmates express need for greater privacy.

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Mental Health Issues (cont)

• Suffer from loneliness, depression, and general
  low morale
• Fear of dying in prison, unsafe living
  environment, and possible victimization
• Estranged from families due to violent crimes
  committed against family members

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Mental Health Issues (cont)

• Violent offenders may experience guilt about
  sexual offenses or homicide and often have
  suicidal thoughts.
• Prison shock a frequent reaction to late life
  imprisonment.
• Some Suffer from early stages of dementia and
  personality rigidity

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Mental Health Issues cont.

• Over half of females have suffered from
  physical/sexual abuse
• Drug/Alcohol problems
• Poor self esteem

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Special Needs of the Older Offender
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Responding to Aging Prisoner Special Needs

• Counseling services and individual and group
  therapy
• Lack adequate work skills to find employment on
  outside
• Locating family/community members willing to
  accept aging inmates

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Special Needs (cont)

• Safety from predators and safe environment
• Medical/mental health counseling
• Accessibility to clinic and food services
• Special diets

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Voices from Georgia

• We need to be seen faster by the same doctor.
• To be housed closer to medical department.
• For the health care people not to get upset with
  what we the prisoners need more understanding.

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Special Needs (cont)

• Discharge planning and community placement
  orientation
• Need assistance with daily living activities
• Health promotion and wellness activities

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Special Needs Cont.

• Less likely to maintain contacts with outside
  world
• Many have outlived family members or have
  disengaged
• Suffer from institutional dependence and feel
  secure with prison setting.

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Tennessee Sample Statements

• In TN prepaid LD calls are 4.17 to connect
  and 53 cents per minute.. I have to work 2 wks to
  pay for a 10 min. call.
• It becomes a strain on the family and pretty
  soon it fizzles.

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Special Needs (cont)

• Appropriate housing and accessibility
• Recreational services and programs
• Accommodations for impaired, frail, and
  handicapped
• Hospice/end of life services

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Special Needs (cont.)

• Importance of work if health permits or jobs
  available
• Prison pastimes (Recreation)
• Religious activities
• Prison friendships and supports
• Educational pursuits

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Thoughts about dying in prison from Mississippi

• My main fear of growing old in prison is dying
  here.
• Ive watch a few people die here and I wouldnt
  want to.
• Youre just a number, thats all. Dying would be
  a great relief

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Special Needs Cont.

• Specialized vs. mainstream housing
  options
• Emergence of geriatric facilities
• Prison nursing homes
• Community alternatives

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Future Issues for Management of the Older Offender
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Barriers to Correctional Response

• Overcrowding and financial constraints frequently
  take first priority.
• Rising costs of medical care
• Small number of aging inmates in some prisons or
  some states

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Barriers to Correctional Response (cont)

• Diversity of aging inmate population
• Lack of trained staff and knowledge
• Lack of correctional policies/facilities/
  programs focusing on aging inmates

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Barriers to Correctional Response (cont)

• Emphasis on life without parole in many states
• Lack of community support
• Staffing for special needs offenders

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Research GeneralInformation Needs

• Incarceration alternatives
• Nature of Family Relationships
• Coping strategies of those entering prison late
  in life
• Common sentencing and parole policies

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Research GeneralInformation Needs (cont)

• Future projections of impact of life without
  parole
• Impact of sentencing law changes
• Effects of long-term institutionalization
• Identifying costs of long-term incarceration of
  infirm prisoners

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Research GeneralInformation Needs (cont)

• Impact of special programming
• Assessment of facilities providing for special
  needs
• Identifying support measures for frail inmates
• Identifying resources available for released
  older inmates

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Older Incarcerated Females in the South

• Mental/Physical Health Needs
• Institutional Supports
• External Support Network
• Activities/Work/Pastimes
• Death Anxiety
• Prison Adjustment