Question

Describe and discuss some of the emerging issues related to geriatric prisoners?​ Be specific

Answer 1

One of the biggest challenges that the prisons, the justice system and the state face is the aging prisoners and the aged prisoners. People who are sentenced 20 years ago when they were healthy and young are aging and there are people who are already old and sent to prison to serve the sentence. This particular population has become the serious concern in the eyes of all those involved. There are certain difficulties that this population and the state faces as given below.

Disabilities – As a person ages, the physical functions are limited and they need someone to look after them. This disability is not only physical but also mental. This is a tough scenario both for the inmates and for the guards and the care givers. Once they become physically disabled, they will lose their confidence level and struggle to cope-up.

More Cost – The State is facing with a new budget as it has to look after the aged people not only as a prisoner but also as a senior citizen with all the medical and care facilities which turns the prison cell into an hospital room where nurses and doctors along with the prison guards walk to help the elderly. This cost is the major threat to the budget of the state.

Unhealthy life style – Prison for old people is not the right place to live healthily. The food, the seclusion and the environment speed up their aging by causing more illness while they are in the prison.

Emotional breakdown – These people in the prison live without any contact with the outside world. So the emotional impact is very strong that they won’t see their family members often. This brings their entire energy levels down and makes them depressed.

Human Rights Protection – This is also a talk of the town favoring the aging prisoners by arguing that they are not going to be a threat to the society anymore as they are very old and suggests that they could be released. The counter argument says that, if they are let free then the public will lose their confidence.