The High Cost of the International Aging Prisoner Crisis: Well-Being as the Common Denominator for Action

Maschi, Tina; Viola, Deborah; Sun, Fei

doi:10.1093/geront/gns125

Cited by 81 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Literature on the healthcare of prisoners, and older prisoners in particular, is limited [5], although a gradual increase is evident from studies published in medical [1,3], gerontology [8,9,10,11,12] and public health journals [13,14,15]. These and other studies provide new knowledge pertaining to disease burden and the quality of healthcare received by prisoners.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ageing Prisoners' Disease Burden: Is Being Old a Better Predictor than Time Served in Prison?

Wangmo¹,

Meyer

Handtke³

et al. 2014

Gerontology

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Background: The number of older prisoners entering and ageing in prison has increased in the last few decades. Ageing prisoners pose unique challenges to the prison administration as they have differentiated social, custodial and healthcare needs than prisoners who are younger and relatively healthier. Objective: The goal of this study was to explore and compare the somatic disease burden of old and young prisoners, and to examine whether it can be explained by age group and/or time served in prison. Methods: Access to prisoner medical records was granted to extract disease and demographic information of older (>50 years) and younger (≤49 years) prisoners in different Swiss prisons. Predictor variables included the age group and the time spent in prison. The dependent variable was the total number of somatic diseases as reported in the medical records. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and a negative binomial model. Results: Data of 380 male prisoners from 13 different prisons in Switzerland reveal that the mean ages of older and younger prisoners were 58.78 and 34.26 years, respectively. On average, older prisoners have lived in prison for 5.17 years and younger prisoners for 2.49 years. The average total number of somatic diseases reported by older prisoners was 2.26 times higher than that of prisoners below 50 years of age (95% CI 1.77-2.87, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind to capture national disease data of prisoners with a goal of comparing the disease burden of older and younger prisoners. Study findings indicate that older inmates suffer from more somatic diseases and that the number of diseases increases with age group. Results clearly illustrate the poorer health conditions of those who are older, their higher healthcare burden, and raises questions related to the provision of healthcare for inmates growing old in prison.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ageing Prisoners' Disease Burden: Is Being Old a Better Predictor than Time Served in Prison?

Wangmo¹,

Meyer

Handtke³

et al. 2014

Gerontology

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“…To circumvent the prediction, however, sheltered housing with community-based support teams is the best choice in our knowledge [31,33]. Welfare costs might increase for elderly prisoners temporarily, but the cost will be balanced out after they live in the community and work regularly [32,35]. Furthermore, their lifestyles without deprivation are invaluable and could safeguard their human rights [13].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, a temporary house with care management could prevent aging prison people from reoffending. Previous studies reported a temporary house with care management for aging prison people, but did not report recidivism rates [35]. The present study examined the effects of a temporary house with case management on recidivism rates in a Japanese prison.…”

Section: A Reintegration Program For Elderly Prisoners Reduces Reoffementioning

confidence: 91%

A Reintegration Program for Elderly Prisoners Reduces Reoffending

Kamigaki¹,

Yokotani²

2014

Journal of Forensic Science & Criminology

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Harsh sentences have resulted in many prisoners being elderly at the time of their release. However, the longer individuals have been incarcerated and the older they are, the more difficult it may be for them to re-enter free society. We developed a reintegration program to promote their successful adjustment to society and to prevent their reoffending, and evaluated its effectiveness. Participants were 25 older prisoners in Japan; all were homeless and more than 65 years old. Ten participants voluntarily participated in the reintegration programs, while the other 15 participants rejected participation in the programs. The programs provided a temporary residence, money, and job support in a community where they desired to live. Participants involved with the reintegration programs had not reoffended at 252 days, while 37.5% of those not involved in the programs reoffended. The two groups did not significantly differ in age, health status, educational level, and total length of sentence. Reintegration of older prisoners into society is more effective when done in the context of a prevention program and welfare support. Aging prison people in Japan explosively increased in a quarter of a century. The population in custody over 65 years-old increased 371% between 1986 and 2012, even though the total population in custody decreased 28% [6]. The explosive increase in the Japanese aging prison population can be explained by their high recidivism rates. In contrast to western countries, such as the United States [7,8] and Sweden [9], around half (47%) of released prisoners over 65 years-old reoffended within one year after their release, whereas only 22% of those between 25 and 29 years-old reoffended [10]. Introduction A Reintegration Program for Elderly Prisoners Reduces Reoffending

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“…In particular, geriatric forensic social workers are well positioned to prevent or intervene with the aging and dying in prison issue because of combined generalist and specialized practice knowledge and skills. Given this current crisis, a two-pronged approach to clinical and policy practice in diverse settings, such as prisons, and with diverse populations, such as incarcerated older people is necessary (Maschi et al 2013). For example, in many of the research, practice, and policy recommendations noted in the Office of the Inspector General's report (2015), social workers can play a role in addressing all of them.…”

Section: Discussion Implications For a Human Rights Approach To Sociamentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of US Compassionate and Geriatric Release Laws: Applying a Human Rights Framework to Global Prison Health

Maschi

Leibowitz

Rees

et al. 2016

J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work

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The purpose of this paper was to analyze the compassionate and geriatric release laws in the USA and the role of advanced age and/or illness. In order to identify existing state and federal laws, a search of the LexisNexis legal database was conducted. Keyword search terms were used: compassionate release, medical parole, geriatric prison release, elderly (or seriously ill), and prison. A content analysis of 47 identified federal and state laws was conducted using inductive and deductive analysis strategies. Of the possible 52 federal and state corrections systems (50 states, Washington D.C, and Federal Corrections), 47 laws for incarcerated people, or their families, to petition for early release based on advanced age or health were found. Six major categories of these laws were identified: (1) physical/mental health, (2) age, (3) pathway to release decision, (4) post-release support, (5) nature of the crime (personal and criminal justice history), and (6) stage of review. Recommendations are offered, for increasing social work policy and practice expertise, and advancing the rights and needs of this population in the context of promoting human rights, aging, health, and criminal justice reform.

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The High Cost of the International Aging Prisoner Crisis: Well-Being as the Common Denominator for Action

Cited by 81 publications

References 17 publications

Ageing Prisoners' Disease Burden: Is Being Old a Better Predictor than Time Served in Prison?

Ageing Prisoners' Disease Burden: Is Being Old a Better Predictor than Time Served in Prison?

A Reintegration Program for Elderly Prisoners Reduces Reoffending

Analysis of US Compassionate and Geriatric Release Laws: Applying a Human Rights Framework to Global Prison Health

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