The need for compassionate release is not just a theoretical concept but an urgent matter that demands our attention. As inmates age, their health deteriorates, and their family situations change. This leads to significantly increasing costs of housing elderly inmates and providing for their health care. This is a pressing issue that requires immediate action.
While compassionate release carries a vital human element, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is legally restricted to granting sentence reductions for extraordinary and compelling reasons. These reasons generally fall into three categories: medical, non-medical, and elderly.
This page focuses on the costs associated with housing elderly inmates and the substantial expenses incurred by the BOP to provide medical care for them and other inmate populations. It’s important to remember the human faces behind these statistics.
Table of contents
- The Growing Number of Elderly Inmates
- The High Costs of Incarcerating Elderly Inmates
- Compassionate Release Programs for Elderly Inmates
- Questioning the Continued Incarceration of Elderly Inmates
- The Rising Cost of Medical Care for Elderly Inmates
- The Impact of Aging in Prison
- The Common Sense of Compassionate Release Programs
- Contact Us for More Information
- Compassionate Release and the Costs of Elderly Inmates FAQs
The Growing Number of Elderly Inmates
In 1981, approximately 9,000 state and federal prisoners were aged 55 and older, according to the ACLU. This number is projected to rise to over 400,000 by 2030. Between 1999 and 2013, the population of state and federal prisoners aged 55 and older increased by 234%, from 43,000 to 144,500.
The High Costs of Incarcerating Elderly Inmates
Housing elderly inmates is expensive. The National Institute of Corrections reports that prisons spend at least twice as much to incarcerate elderly inmates as they do for younger prisoners. Experts estimate the cost of incarcerating an elderly prisoner ranges between $60,000 and $70,000 per year, primarily due to the increased healthcare needs of this population.
Compassionate Release Programs for Elderly Inmates
In response to the growing number of elderly inmates, most states and the federal government have implemented compassionate release or geriatric release programs. These programs, with their potential to reduce costs and improve the quality of life for elderly inmates, offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging situation.
Despite compassionate release programs in 45 states and the federal government, they are rarely used. Political considerations, public opinion, narrow eligibility criteria, and lengthy, complex procedures often result in elderly prisoners dying in prison before their release is approved.
Questioning the Continued Incarceration of Elderly Inmates
The high costs associated with incarcerating elderly inmates raise important questions: If older inmates have such low recidivism rates and are so expensive to house, why do we continue to incarcerate them for extended periods?
The Rising Cost of Medical Care for Elderly Inmates
Compassionate release programs are a practical solution that can save taxpayers money. In 2013, the Department of Justice (DOJ) estimated that the average cost of incarcerating a prisoner was $28,893, while the average cost of housing an inmate in a federal medical center was $57,962. Perhaps more importantly, these programs do not compromise public safety. The DOJ’s Office of Inspector General reports that released prisoners over the age of 55 have a recidivism rate of 15%, compared to the overall population’s rate of 41%. Additionally, inmates granted compassionate release have a recidivism rate of just 3.5%.
The Impact of Aging in Prison
The case for expanding compassionate release becomes even more potent when considering the impact of aging in prison. As prisoners age, their risk of committing crimes decreases, but their health deteriorates significantly. Criminologist Jonathan Simon, in his book Mass Incarceration on Trial (2014), explains that the health of aging prisoners worsens, especially when chronic illnesses go untreated. The risk of crime starts high in young adults and decreases with age, while the risk of illness begins low and increases with time.
The Common Sense of Compassionate Release Programs
Compassionate release programs are vital to a fair and just criminal justice system. State legislatures and Congress should expand these programs to realize the benefits they offer in terms of humanity and cost savings. Releasing elderly and infirm inmates does not compromise public safety but significantly reduces the high costs of housing them—a common-sense approach that benefits everyone.
Contact Us for More Information
If you have questions about the costs associated with elderly inmates or prison medical care, please call to speak with one of our compassionate release lawyers. Our team can also discuss the compassionate release guidelines, the impact of the First Step Act, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s involvement.
Compassionate Release and the Costs of Elderly Inmates FAQs
Yes, the cost of housing elderly inmates is significantly higher than that of younger inmates. The increased costs associated with elderly inmates are primarily due to the greater need for healthcare services. On average, the costs of healthcare for elderly inmates in prison are much higher, contributing to the overall economic burden.
The cost typically ranges between $60,000 and $70,000 per year. This cost is driven by the extensive healthcare needs of elderly inmates, which far exceed those of younger prisoners. As a result, the cost of incarcerating elderly inmates is one of the most significant expenses within the prison system.
The costs associated with elderly inmates are high due to the increased healthcare needs that come with aging. The cost of elderly inmate health care includes chronic disease management, frequent medical visits, and often specialized treatments. These factors make incarcerating elderly inmates much more expensive compared to younger inmates.
Early release of elderly inmates, especially those with severe health issues, is often recommended. Reducing the cost of incarcerating elderly inmates through compassionate release can save taxpayers money while addressing the humanitarian aspect of incarceration. Given that elderly inmates have a low recidivism rate, early release poses minimal risk to public safety.
Compassionate release programs allow for the early release of inmates who meet specific criteria, such as chronic illness, terminal conditions, or extraordinary family circumstances. These programs are designed to reduce the cost on the prison system while ensuring that those who no longer pose a threat to society are not unduly burdened by continued incarceration.
Compassionate release programs have a minimal impact on public safety. Studies show that the recidivism rate for elderly inmates released under these programs is extremely low, at just 3.5%. Given the low risk they pose to the community, the cost of elderly inmate health care for extended periods becomes increasingly difficult to justify.
To qualify for compassionate release, an elderly inmate must meet specific criteria, such as having a terminal illness, a debilitating chronic condition, or facing extraordinary circumstances like the loss of a primary caregiver. These criteria help prioritize the release of those whose continued incarceration would incur unnecessary costs of elderly inmate health care and housing.
Releasing elderly inmates from incarceration, especially those with significant health issues, is often seen as a sensible approach. The costs of elderly inmates, particularly in terms of healthcare, make their continued incarceration an expensive burden on the prison system. Many argue that, with low recidivism rates, elderly inmates should be released when they no longer pose a threat to society.
Compassionate release offers several benefits, including reducing the cost of incarcerating elderly inmates, ensuring that these individuals receive appropriate healthcare outside of prison, and addressing the ethical considerations of keeping severely ill or aging inmates behind bars. Additionally, it can relieve the financial strain on the prison system by lowering the overall costs of elderly inmates.
Improving compassionate release programs involves expanding eligibility criteria, simplifying the application process, and increasing awareness among prison staff and inmates about their availability. Enhancing these programs can further reduce the costs associated with elderly inmates, particularly the high costs of healthcare for the elderly in prison.