NCJ Number
197998
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 82 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 440-458
Date Published
December 2002
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article critically reviews the literature that describes older U.S. inmates and that examines correctional responses to this subpopulation of incarcerated offenders.
Abstract
The number of older inmates in U.S. facilities has increased by more than 50 percent since 1996 (American Correctional Association, 1999). This unprecedented increase in this subpopulation of inmates has prompted correctional administrators and other criminal justice professionals to review policies that balance a number of equally compelling issues: public safety, economic costs, institutional management, and humanitarian concerns. This literature review encompasses the scholarly literature on this subject published since the late 1970's that describes older inmates and examines the biopsychosocial characteristics that are unique to this subpopulation of inmates. The literature confirms that the proportion of State and Federal inmates 55 years old and older is steadily increasing. The most reliable and representative descriptive data on older inmates, which were last collected in 1979, indicate that older inmates were most likely to be unmarried white men with children who reported less than a 12th grade education. The population of older inmates is likely to be composed of heterogenous subtypes, with the needs of first-time offenders being different from those of more chronic offenders. Older offenders are most likely to be incarcerated for violent crimes such as aggravated assault, homicide, and sex offenses. These are often committed against family members in the home. Older inmates are likely to report one or more chronic health conditions; some may also report symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are greater health concerns among older women and a prevalence of alcohol use among older male inmates. Most States and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have implemented limited provisions to accommodate older inmates and those with special needs. The authors advise that the most important conclusion from this literature review is that existing research on older inmates has been conducted primarily to stimulate the development of needed correctional policies and programs. Policy researchers are challenged to find and disseminate facts that will illuminate both the most compelling issues that affect older inmates and the provisions designed to accommodate them. Such knowledge will benefit diverse prison systems that vary in their institutional populations, problems, and resources. 2 tables and 72 references