Elderly Inmates

One would believe that elderly inmates receive special treatment, but this is not always the case. According to Human Rights Watch (2012), the prison system does not give favoritism to housing an elderly inmate due to his or her age but keep older inmates with the general population. The only time in which the correctional system gives an elderly prisoner special treatment, depends on the elder’s health. Also, Human Rights Watch (2012) went on to state that the reason as to why elderly inmates cost more to house is due to having to care for elderly inmates failing health which is greater than the overall prison population. “Space permitting, aging inmates who have serious physical or mental conditions or limitations on their ability to

According to Human Right Watch (2012), inmate Edmund is an eighty-seven year old with advanced dementia. The prison system is caring for Edmund as though he was in a senior citizen home. Edmund, who is also a paranoid schizophrenic, receive around the clock care like many other dementia inmates throughout the country. Therefore, is the prison system becoming more of a nursing home for elderly inmates?

Although most state prisons do not have institutions design only for the elderly, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (2016), the Florida Department of Corrections has units specifically intended for elderly inmates and one unit is dedicated to prisoners who are fifty years of age and older. The units allow for less stress when elder inmates are housed with people in the same age group. Most elderly inmates prefer these living conditions because they do not want to get beaten up or have their valuables stolen by younger inmates although some older inmates enjoy the energy of younger

Stat. ({2016}), the 10-20-Life law is in place to eradicate the minimum mandatory sentencing for aggravated assault in Florida. The Statute states that in the 10-20-Life law, if a person is convicted of being in possession of a firearm, they will get a mandatory sentence of ten years. If a person convicted of possession of a semi-automatic/machine gun, they will get a mandatory sentence of fifteen years. If a person convicted of discharging a firearm of any type, they will get a mandatory sentence of twenty years. If a person discharges a weapon which causes bodily harm or death, the person will receive a mandatory sentence of twenty-five years to life. Hence, with younger people committing violent crimes, they may spend the rest of their natural born life