From Prison Witers:
The elderly in prison creates unique challenges for the criminal justice system, including higher medical costs and the need for special housing and programming. CDOC’s reluctance to release elderly incarcerated people is troubling. State prisons have become nursing homes with bars, and states are increasingly being charged with watching over geriatric prisoners in facilities that are not equipped to care for them.
In the past 10 years, the proportion of inmates over the age of 50 has increased from 3,492 to 3,682 in Colorado, a 5.4% increase, while the general inmate population has decreased from 22,382 to 17,260, a decrease of 22.9%. [FY 2022 statistical report]
Over the past three decades, the population of individuals serving life without parole in the U.S. has increased a hundredfold. [Gottschalk] Many states’ medical spending has eclipsed $100 million annually due primarily to the extensive care of elderly inmates who pose little risk of committing new crimes. During this time of budget constraints and high inflation, one way for states to help with their budgetary shortfalls is to create achievable elder parole and Special Needs Parole programs to cut down on the number of elderly incarcerated people. Continue reading >>>
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