NCJ Number
153761
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 72 Issue: 1 & 2 Dated: (1992) Pages: 77-98
Date Published
1992
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a multiyear effort to assess the long-term needs of older offenders in State, Federal, and Canadian prison systems and to identify major policy issues and differences in system responses to this segment of the inmate population.
Abstract
The first phase of research occurred during 1988 and 1989 under the auspices of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Sent to correctional departments, the mail survey was followed by telephone calls to States with promising programs; 41 States and the Canadian correctional system responded. The second phase of research consisted of an independent followup survey in 1992 to obtain updated information using a supplementary survey instrument. The telephone survey yielded updated responses from 46 U.S. correctional systems and the Canadian correctional system. Combined data were then augmented by an extensive literature search and analysis of ongoing program efforts on behalf of long-term, older offenders. Results showed that the long-term, older inmate population was not tracked and monitored by most correctional systems. No commonly accepted definitions of either long-term offenders or elderly inmates were found. In fact, of the 46 State correctional systems, 33 (72 percent) indicated they did not use the concept of long-term offender in their inmate classification and treatment program activities. Most States, however, considered sentence length and physical condition when classifying and custody grading inmates and when making work, program, and housing assignments. Five recommendations are offered: (1) develop and maintain baseline data on elderly offenders to facilitate needs assessment, compliance, and planning; (2) modify existing classification systems to mainstream elderly inmates if consistent with their physical and mental health needs; (3) modify correctional facilities to ensure equitable treatment of old and young inmates; (4) modify work and educational programs to include health care education, preventive medicine, and counseling geared toward special needs of the elderly; and (5) establish special geriatric units for older inmates who require special care. Information on correctional facilities that provide special units and/or programming for long-term and elderly offenders is appended. 38 references