Forward Thinking

Corrections Trends: Aging Offender Populations

2008-06-04T21:16:00Z

The proportion and number of prison inmates over age 50 is increasing significantly. In 2002, 8.2% of prison inmates (113,358) were age 50 or older, compared to 4% (33,499) in 1990. By 2011, Florida expects 14% of their state prison inmates to be in that age group. One study found that the prison costs for inmates over the age of 60 were more than three times the costs for younger inmates (primarily due to health care expenses).

Implications for Corrections

Increasing numbers of elderly inmates present health care and safety challenges for prisons and jails. Older inmates require additional health care, services that are experiencing dramatic cost increases. State prison health care costs were estimated at $3.7 billion in 2003, a 42% increase from the previous year. A survey in 2001 showed that 16 states had established special housing units or separate facilities for older prison inmates. Some jurisdictions are exploring ways to release elderly inmates from prison.

Information Sources:

Aging Prisoners: Crisis in American Corrections

Aging Inmates Push Up Cost of Medical Care

To Cut Prison Bill, States Tweak Laws, Try Early Release

Correctional Health Care

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Corrections Trends: Mentally Ill Offenders

2008-06-04T20:42:00Z

Shifts in recent decades from institutional care of the mentally ill to community-based treatment has resulted in more persons with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system and being supervised by correctional agencies. It is estimated that 16% of all offenders being supervised by community corrections or confined in prisons and jails (1,252,000 individuals) at the end of 2006 were mentally ill. At midyear 2005, an estimated 1,264,300 prison and jail inmates had a mental health problem. Nearly 74% of state prison inmates and 76% of local jail inmates with mental health problems also met the criterial for substance abuse or dependence.

Implications for Corrections

The growing number of mentally ill in prison, jails, and community corrections presents problems in providing proper treatment and managing their behavioral problems. Corrections is faced with (1) increased costs for managing the mentally ill, (2) needing special housing and other provisions for detaining/incarcerating that population, (3) increasing collaboration with mental health care providers, and (4) exploring changes in policies and practices to develop more appropriate options for treating and managing mentally ill offenders.

Information Sources:

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Corrections Trends: Tighter Budgets for Corrections

2008-04-01T22:33:00Z

According to sources such as the General Accounting Office and the National Conference of State Legislatures, all levels of government are entering a period of increasing costs that will not be covered by predicted revenues. These fiscal challenges will likely persist through several decades. Many jurisdictions will be faced with increasing taxes and/or reducing costs and changing policies to balance budgets.

Implications for Corrections

Corrections agencies will face tighter competition for appropriations. Many agencies are likely to experience spending freezes and even reductioins, or increases in funding that will not be sufficient for increases in costs. Agencies will be expected to implement cost-cutting measures, with many jurisdictions reviewing policies related to the costs and rates of confinement and detention of offenders.

Information Sources:

General Accounting Office

National Conference of State Legislatures

National Governors' Association

Corrections Trends: Terrorism and Corrections

2008-04-01T22:03:00Z

According to the National Intelligence Council and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the threats of international and domestic terrorism will continue into the foreseeable future. Threats come from radical religious, political, environmental groups and individuals, taking different forms from violence towards people to destruction of infrastructure.

Implications for Corrections

Corrections agencies must carefully address external and internal security threats resulting from terrorism. Staff of facilities and offices must prepare for possible attacks or actions to disrupt operations. All corrections agencies involved in the supervision of terrorists must restrict further terrorist activity by those individuals, and share intelligence of their attempts to continue to engage in terrorism.

Information Sources:

National Intelligence Council

Federal Bureau of Investigation