Today, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) released our final white paper:
Sentenced to Grow Old: How Long-Term Incarceration is Fueling a Prison Aging Crisis in Illinois, Iowa, and Texas
This paper reveals how nearly 50 years of punitive sentencing have created a crisis inside U.S. prisons, with elders serving decades-long sentences, being left sick, vulnerable, and detained, but unlikely to reoffend.
According to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, by 2030, one-third of all incarcerated people in the U.S. will be over the age of 50.
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Behind bars, these older individuals face increasing health problems – dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and mobility issues – exacerbated by conditions of confinement. The result? A growing humanitarian and financial crisis.
Older people cost at least twice as much to incarcerate as younger people, yet pose little risk to public safety. Fewer than 2% of people aged 55 and over who are incarcerated for a violent offense return to prison for a new crime.
Sentenced to Grow Old examines data from Iowa, Texas, and Illinois to:
- Diagnose the causes of the aging prison population
- Reveal the financial and human cost of extreme sentences
- Point to proven solutions: parole reform, compassionate release, and second look laws
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The proven solutions are more than just policy tools; they are pathways to dignity, care, and a smarter justice system. By addressing aging in prison, states can alleviate their financial obligations, provide better healthcare for their citizens, and maintain public safety.
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For nearly three decades, we've fought for a justice system rooted in humanity, not punishment. We leave you with this final call to action: keep pushing. Keep telling the truth. Keep fighting until there are no more prisons.
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Justice Policy Institute
1012 14th Street NW
Ste 600
Washington, DC 20005
United States
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