NCJ Number
167688
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 76-79,136
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes changes in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities to accommodate older, sicker inmates and those with special needs.
Abstract
Corrections trends today indicate longer sentences, larger correctional systems and more inmates, including more women, geriatrics, and those convicted of drug-related crimes. Drug-related lifestyles involve intravenous drug use, high-risk sexual activity and poor nutrition, resulting in disease and medical problems when inmates are in prison. The BOP is using existing infrastructure in creative ways, converting vacated state mental hospitals to medium-security prisons, substance abuse facilities, and secure juvenile facilities. Other vacated public institutions are being reused for prison geriatric, hospice and chronic care programs. Prison officials also must consider requirements for other special installations, including: mental health facilities and family visitation areas for Native American jail populations; prisons that can accommodate the individual or small-group programming often used for female inmates; overnight arrangements for visits by women inmates' children; and living space that considers the special physical needs and limitations of elderly inmates and that can be segregated from the living space of younger inmates. References