NCJ Number
178214
Date Published
1995
Length
195 pages
Annotation
New York's prison population is growing at a fast rate at a time when State resources are becoming more scarce, and older inmates present a special problem because they are more expensive to maintain than younger inmates.
Abstract
Between 1971 and 1991, New York's inmate population more than tripled, forcing the State to house 64,485 inmates in a prison system rated to hold only 50,276. New York responded to the correctional crisis by building new correctional facilities, but construction plans are still inadequate due to projected inmate populations. The drain on correctional resources is not solely attributable to prison construction. Within the prison system, inmates with special needs absorb a disproportionately large share of the correctional budget. Of all special needs inmates, older inmates represent one of the fastest growing and most costly inmate populations. Estimates indicate that older inmates cost three times more than younger inmates, and the greatest single contributor to the high cost of maintaining older inmates involves medical expenditures. Findings of an intensive evaluation of New York's approach to older inmates are presented. Recommendations are offered to improve correctional services for older inmates in a cost-effective manner. Appendixes contain procedural information on the evaluation. Endnotes, tables, and figures