Aging Ex-Felons Face Daunting Prospects Upon Release From Prison

Between 1995 and 2010, the number of state and federal prisoners age 55 or older nearly quadrupled nationwide, an escalation of 282 percent compared to a 42 percent increase in the number of all prisoners, according to a 2010 Human Rights Watch analysis of Bureau of Justice data. These aging ex-felons bring with them a tsunami of potentially destitute senior citizens sicker and needier than others in their age group. In this article, NCCD’s Michela Bowman discusses the challenges facing California’s aging “Three Strikes” offenders upon release.

Between 1995 and 2010, the number of state and federal prisoners age 55 or older nearly quadrupled nationwide, an escalation of 282 percent compared to a 42 percent increase in the number of all prisoners, according to a 2010 Human Rights Watch analysis of Bureau of Justice data. These aging ex-felons bring with them a tsunami of potentially destitute senior citizens sicker and needier than others in their age group. In this article, NCCD’s Michela Bowman discusses the challenges facing California’s aging “Three Strikes” offenders upon release.