Aging Offenders in Corrections Photo Credit: Tim Gruber

“You actually create victims by not letting [elderly prisoners] go and using your resources on rehabilitation for the ones that are going to get out.... When I came here and saw the elderly population, I said, ‘God, well, why are they here? Our name is Corrections to correct deviant behavior [but] there’s nothing to correct in these guys; they’re harmless....’” Quote from Warden Burl Cain, Warden Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola Parole for the Elderly (ACLU 2012), available at

The Aging Population of U.S. Prisons 2007 to 2010 –# of older prisoners (65+) in the U.S. increased by 63% –Older prisoners in Louisiana increased by 34 % –The overall prison population in the U.S. increased by 0.7% –The overall prison population in Louisiana increased by 4.8%

The Older Adults in Prisons U.S. - 26,200 prisoners are 65 years or older. –Louisiana prisoners are 65 years or older. U.S ,400 prisoners are 55 years or older. –Louisiana - 3,332 prisoners are 55 years or older.

According to the National Institute of Corrections, prisoners age 50 and older are considered “elderly” or “aging” due to unhealthy conditions prior to and during incarceration.

The Older Adults in Prisons Offenders 50 or older comprises 17% of Louisiana DOC population. Of state prisoners who are 51+ years, 46.4% have sentences ranging from more than 20 years to life. In Louisiana prisoners who are 50+ years, 47% have sentences ranging from more than 20 years to life.

Presently Louisiana defines the geriatric population as offenders that are 50 years and older. –17% population Geriatric Population Average age is 54.4 Age of Conviction Average age is 43.1 years Average Sentence for the Geriatric Population is 42.8 years

Why the Changes? Those age 55 and older tend to have longer sentences. Increase in Life Sentences & use of “three strikes” laws People entering prison at older age Early release is not commonly used

Sentencing for 50 and Older Max Sent to be Served (Yrs) Percent of Population >20 (Fixed Term) 18.4 Life27.6 Death0.2 Avg Sentence: 42.4 Yrs

Implications of an Aging Population

Most Common Cause of Death in Prison Heart Disease Cancer Liver failure Complications from AIDS Respiratory Diseases

Issues of Aging Population Chronic Illness –In the free world 80% of older adults have one chronic condition –50% have two or more. In 2009 a Harvard study showed – –40% of the total prison population had a chronic medical condition –Compared to other Americans of the same age, prisoners were – 31% more likely to have asthma 55% more likely to have diabetes 90% more likely to have a heart attack

Current Chronic Illnesses Diagnosed in Louisiana Prisons Chronic Disease Increase in diagnosis Hypertension4,3465,1325,3235, % population 25% Diabetes1,1781,1921,2561, % population 9% Cancer % population 9% Heart Disease % population 11% Pulmonary Disease8901,0181,0521, % population 26%

Complications of Aging in Prison Environment –Cellblocks – heating and cooling –Exposure walking to or waiting in line for food or pill call –Exposure on the yard Brain and Nervous System –Can impact safety in situations requiring a quick response –No longer able to perform tasks they have done throughout their lives

More than 76% of the 5,300 offenders imprisoned at the Louisiana State Penitentiary are expected to die there.

Costs of Care According to a NIC study in 2004, taxpayers pay more than twice as much per year to incarcerate an aging prisoner than a younger offender.

Costs of Care Medical Costs for Older Prisoners –A study done by Michigan determined the health care costs for elderly offenders. –Average cost $5,801 –55-59 age group $11,000 –80 and older $40,000 Herrman,L.(2012). U.S. prisons becoming old age homes behind bars. Accessed May 12, 2012 from

Prisons are not designed to be homes for the elderly.

Options Compassionate Release Use of Infirmaries Retrofit areas of the prison for the vulnerable elderly Build new facilities inside prison walls

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), total health care spending in the U.S. was 15.2% of its GDP in 2008, the highest in the world.GDPhighest The Health and Human Services Department expects that the health share of GDP will continue its historical upward trend, reaching 19.5% of GDP by This is the only sector which continues to grow despite the historic economic downturn. In a nutshell, when one wants to provide for appropriate health care to a rapidly growing, aging offender population with unusually high health care needs, with an accelerating increase in cost, during one of longest streaks of budget reductions for the agencies, it does become a daunting task.

DVD regarding Elderly and Younger population. Photo Credit: Tim Gruber