Aging Prisoners: A Growing Problem

The number of Americans in prison older than 55 is growing faster than the group’s share of the population at large, and older prisoners are nine times more expensive to care for than younger inmates according to Human Rights Watch.  Prison officials are scrambling to respond to the needs and vulnerabilities of older prisoners. They are constrained, however, by tightened budgets, prison architecture that is  not designed for common age-related disabilities,  and limited medical facilities and staff. This article makes the case for restructuring the prison system for older inmates.