Parole for the Elderly
Tynesha Wilson
CJHS 430
November 17, 2014
Christopher Abreu
Parole for the Elderly
There are many arguments for and against confining the sick and elderly adults in jail. Some of the arguments include but are not limited to the cost to house these inmates (elderly and sick), monies used to house these inmates could be used to fund other programs, where will these inmates go once they are released, the reduction of overcrowding in the prison system, may increase crime and the homeless population, etc. Should the elderly be released just because a large amount of money is spent just to house them or should those elderly inmates remain incarcerated because they did the crime and should have to do the crime?
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Would it be fair to say to inmates who are incarcerated for committing the same crimes that just because someone is elderly or sick he or she may be released and they (the younger inmates) have to stay? The more favoritism shown to the elderly and sickly the harder it will be for the criminal justice system to remain fair and just to all.
Another argument for paroling the sick and elderly is that paroling those inmates (sick and elderly) will reduce the overcrowding of prisons. Prisons are grossly overcrowded. There are many inmates in the prison system that has been incarcerated for over 25 years if not more! The more inmates (non-violent) that can be released back into society the less people being housed in the prison system thus freeing up space and money that can be used in other ways such as for violent criminals. Everyday inmates are placed in the prison system after being convicted of a crime(s), with every prisoner the prison takes in the overcrowding problem increases.
In 2006, United States District Judge Thelton Henderson ruled that federal oversight of the state prison system was needed after determining that an average of one inmate per week died as a result of medical malpractice or neglect (Californiahealthline.org). Prisons are sometimes very understaffed not to mention that they are not equipped to handle the different types of illnesses that are brought to the prison by
Throughout history into today, there have been many problems with our prison system. Prisons are overcrowded, underfunded, rape rates are off the charts, and we as Americans have no idea how to fix it. We need to have shorter sentences and try to rehabilitate prisoners back to where they can function in society. Many prisoners barely have a high school education and do not receive further education in jail. Guards need to pay more attention to the well being of the inmates and start to notice signs of abuse and address them. These are just a few of the many problems in our prison systems that need to be addressed.
this? Is it because quality inmate health care is vital to public health? Who decided what type of
Inmates within the prison system experience a vast array of medical issues. Their medical issues are costly and require medical personnel with a multitude of experience to be available to inmates. Inmate health care is more reactive than it is preventative, which results in expensive treatments. If we were to implement a more comprehensive preventative system within our prisons, we would see a drastic decline in inmate medical issues.
The U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged the growing distress, deeming California’s state prisons unconstitutionally crowded. In 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled out that California’s 33 state prisons have become too overcrowded to the point where there are no sufficient medical and mental health care available (Realignment AB 109, 2013). The U.S. Supreme Court determined that the 33 state prisons are violating constitutional exclusions, under the Eighth Amendment, against unfamiliar punishment and brutality, says the American Legislative Exchange Council, an American organization producing model policies for state legislators (ALEC, 2010).
Before 1955, the mentally ill took shelter in mental facility institutions. After 1955, the United States’ deinstitutionalized these facilities and made policy changes to the mental illness treatment system. However, those policy changes are flawed. Some say rather than abandoning mentally ill patients and depriving them of shelter, the United States government should change the way the mentally ill are treated in their current living situations. Instead of changing the attitudes of those who provide services to the mentally ill, it would be more beneficial to change the services themselves.
Linder and Frederick J. Meyers. This article starts with a story about an inmate who found out he had cancer while incarcerated. Then, it goes on to incorporate his story throughout the article in interview form to provide inside information on the treatment of prisoners. Most inmates come in with addictions and substance abuse, no access to health care, homelessness, and untreated mental illnesses (Linder and Meyers 895). They blame this on the lack of medical health that’s available to the general population. According to Linder and Meyers, “Inmates and the free-living populations share 6 of the 10 leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, influenza/pneumonia, and septicemia”. With the remaining four for inmates being liver disease, AIDS, self-harm and digestion
Is this really fair for someone who didn't hurt others? The incarceration rate is high due to a majority of drug offenders, stated at 50% which is the single, largest category of federal felons. Gang members are also serving time for drug or crime, which leads them to accountability for their actions within the penal system. The goal is growth, equality, accountability and moral value. The justification should not be portrayed through violence if the the convict did not commit a violent act and should be reintegrated into society once the violator has served their time. The financial aspect should supply efforts from the prosecuted to downsize these incarcerated for the lesser violent charges to advocate prosocial life skills, to connect family ties and support to heal communities and congregational
Treatments are provided for the inmate’s best interest and what may improve their mental and physical health, even though mentally ill inmates have their rights in denying treatment they
Similar to other legislative proposals, it would expand “compassionate release” of elderly persons incarcerated and would eliminate the use of solitary confinement for juvenile offenders.
Another way to resolve this issue, would be to have each individual state come up with various health care plans in which inmates’ would be able to sign up and pay for with the money on their accounts, or having family members or friends pay for
A great study conducted by Dr. Williams consisted of gathering workers in the prisons who worked with elderly inmates: 29 experts where chosen of which 19 were men and 10 were women. The goal and purpose of the study was to find a possible solution to help
There are approximately 1,600,000 million inmates are behind bars in America (Glazer, 2014, para. 11) . Without a doubt, much of state prisons are overcrowded, which can lead to, very dangerous situations and environments. Due to the overwhelming number of inmates incarcerated it is difficult to deal with medical and mental health problems in prison. If most inmates complain about not feeling well or have symptoms, medical condition or disease that is not immediately, they would get some form of medication and get turned life back without seeing a doctor for a proper medical exam. A clear majority of the health care professional that work in the prison systems are very under qualified to work in such dangerous and trauma environments like prisons
Having poor heath care within the prison system is something that is very dangerous. It can lead to things such as accidental deaths, worsening pre-existing conditions, and conditions occurring that could have been prevented if the proper care was
Disconnecting elderly folks from their families and incarcerating every person who commits crime without thinking logically: Is this what modernization and our teachings adds up to? Is it even fair that human beings are taught to do these things to us from the very beginning of our educational lives? Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses several points in “How The Future Will Judge Us?” that he believes are negatively affecting our society in terms of how we treat people directly or indirectly. These points include criticism of our prison system, institutionalized and isolated elderly, the destruction of the environment, and the industrial meat production system. His main concern regarding these subjects is for the upcoming generation which might view us negatively. He makes two important claims; firstly, no other country has as extensive a populace in jail as compared to America, including non-violent offenders, and secondly, while some elderly Americans may live freely, they are frequently disconnected from their families despite having many living relatives. These problems can be solved by thinking logically to figure out permanent solutions. For instance, we should provide the elderly with emotional and medical needs because they deserve it, and secondly, a more profound way to deal with prisoners is through rehabilitation programs because unlike animals, they have the ability to understand the difference between right and wrong.
As the life expectancy in the United States rises, the number of elderly in the population has also expanded. These increases have led to the oldest-old (people aged 90 and older) to become the fastest growing age group in the country. The oldest-old face many unique challenges because of their age, one of which is disability. Disability in the elderly has major impact upon society 1 and will continue will be a growing burden in years to come.