The Case for Human Agency, Well-Being, and Community Reintegration for People Aging in Prison

Abstract

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.

Older adults in jail: high rates and early onset of geriatric conditions

“…Incarcerated older adults generate up to 9 times the cost of younger prisoners while in custody (Ahalt et al 2013 ) and many older adults cycling through jail rely on costly emergency department services while in the community (Chodos et al 2014 ; Humphreys et al 2017 ). Thus addressing the needs of older adults while incarcerated and upon community re-entry is critical (Maschi et al 2013 ). Clinical care models have been developed to provide cost-efficient, culturally appropriate care to low-income older patients (Coleman et al 2006 ; Counsell et al 2007 ).…”

Who Wants to Die in Here?

“…18 , 25 The proposed changes in practice may foster prisoners’ perceptions of health care staff getting the job done as best they can despite limited resources.…”

“…In order to better position chronically ill prisoners to best partner with healthcare providers to promote their health and facilitate a good death, they should be provided with health planning and decision making education and resources. 25 Having these tools and training is equally beneficial to those preparing for release from prison. 25 Prison systems can serve as conduits of information.…”

“…25 Having these tools and training is equally beneficial to those preparing for release from prison. 25 Prison systems can serve as conduits of information. For example, by reaching out to longstanding prison hospices in the U.S. approaches to successfully managing the pain of dying prisoners can be shared, which is especially important because many of their prisoner patients would similarly have histories of narcotic addiction.…”

“…Simultaneously well-planned efforts to convey to the public that if prisoners nearing EOL were to be released from prison via compassionate release they are carefully vetted in advance to ensure that they pose little risk to public safety and may actually result in cost savings to the tax-paying public if prisoners’ family members are willing and able to provide community-based care. In addition, public fears could be lessened by application of ankle monitoring bracelets, as suggested by Maschi and colleagues 25 for early release of elderly prisoners. Finally, since prisoners may not be viewed by some as deserving health care investments 31 , communicating that the program facilitates humane care for the dying rather than coddles criminals may promote public tolerance.…”