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Using a triangulated research design, this research examines the mental health of life without parole (LWOP) inmates. A bivariate analysis of the mental health of two groups of LWOP inmates was conducted, new ( n = 72) and veteran ( n = 46). New LWOP inmates were defined as those who had served less than the mean number of years of the sample (10.5 years) while veteran LWOP inmates had served greater than the mean time served. Results indicate that the initial stages of incarceration are particularly stressful as a higher prevalence of new LWOP inmates reported mental health disorder than veteran LWOP inmates. Significant differences exist between the two groups in several areas. In-depth interviews with veteran LWOP inmates ( n = 25) are further indicative of an inverse relationship between mental disorder and length of incarceration.

Although deprivation and importation theories are frequently offered as explanations of institutional misconduct, there have been few studies that have tested either approach on women in prison. Moreover, despite research that suggests women have different pathways to crime, research studies have not incorporated gendered variables into the importation perspective. As such, this study tests three explanations of misconduct in a large sample of female inmates. Using logistic and negative binomial regressions, results support deprivation, importation, and gendered importation explanations relative to understanding of female misconduct.

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This study profiled 2,913 adults aged 50 and older sentenced to a statewide correctional system and their parole eligibility status with implications for community reintegration, resettlement, and recovery needs. The research team developed the Correctional Tracking Data Extraction Tool to gather official data and personal and legal characteristics from a state department of corrections website. The majority of older prisoners were men from racial/ethnic minorities between the ages of 50 and 59 with a range of minor to serious offenses. Time served in prison ranged from 1 month to 45 years; more than 40% were eligible for parole within 5 years. These findings underscore the need for an intervention that can address the differing typologies and individual-level and systemic issues that gave rise to the aging prisoner population. Promising practices that address elements of a conceptual model in prison and community reintegration and recovery for older adult prisoners are reviewed.