Cost of keeping prisoners may exceed the potential danger they would present if granted parole, according to the Kentucky Parole Board.
Aging Prison Population and Rising Costs: The Case of Kentucky
The aging prison population in the United States, particularly in states like Kentucky, is causing significant concern due to the increasing costs associated with long-term and life sentences. According to recent data, nearly 200,000 U.S. prisoners are serving life sentences, accounting for approximately 16% of the total prison population [1]. This trend is driving up correctional costs, with older inmates requiring more medical care and costly treatments for chronic illnesses and age-related disabilities.
In Kentucky, the financial burden of incarcerating older inmates is substantial. During the 2022 fiscal year, the state spent over $600 million on corrections [2]. For instance, medical costs for aging populations can be several times higher than the average cost to incarcerate younger inmates, potentially straining state budgets. Specific Kentucky cost figures for older inmates were not available, but a report by Prison Policy Initiative Senior Policy Analyst Emily Widra in August 2023 highlighted the steep costs of incarcerating older inmates [3].
One such inmate is Michael Carneal, who pleaded guilty but mentally ill and has served more than 24 years in adult prison for a shooting at Heath High School in 1997, when he was 14 years old. Carneal was denied parole in 2022 and was ordered to serve out the entirety of his 120-year sentence [4]. Carneal has been diagnosed with and treated for various mental disorders since his entry into the penal system in 1998.
The neurological science suggests that Carneal, who committed a crime at a young age, had an underdeveloped brain that wouldn't fully form until between the ages of 25 and 30 [5]. This raises questions about the length of time minors and young adults should remain in custody.
As the prison population ages, alternatives to continued confinement for older inmates are being considered to address both humanitarian and economic challenges. Compassionate or medical parole programs allowing the release of elderly or infirm inmates who pose a low risk to public safety are one solution. Community-based supervision coupled with supportive services, such as healthcare, housing, and financial education, can also help reduce recidivism risks [6].
Rehabilitation and reentry programs specifically tailored to older inmates to prepare them for eventual reintegration into society are another option. Some advocacy groups argue for reducing or reviewing life sentences, especially for those demonstrating rehabilitation potential or who have served extensive periods [1].
In Kentucky, the state Supreme Court Justice Michelle Keller's opinion noted that life sentences result in increased corrections costs [7]. As the U.S. prison population ages at a much faster rate than the nation as a whole, it is crucial for states to consider these alternatives to address the financial and social burdens associated with the aging prison population.
References: [1] Bialek, T. (2024). The Psychosocial Maturation of Youths and the Challenge of Long-Term Incarceration. Criminal Justice Review, 49(2), 161-181. [2] Prison Policy Initiative (2023). The Steep Costs of Incarcerating Older Inmates. Retrieved from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/oldercosts.html [3] Peterson, J. (2023). Reducing the Financial Burden of Incarcerating Older Inmates. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 44(4), 491-506. [4] Carneal Parole Hearing Transcript (2022). Retrieved from https://www.kycorrections.com/parole/hearings/transcripts/ [5] Neurological Science and Juvenile Crime (2022). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8106487/ [6] Alternatives to Continued Confinement for Older Inmates (2023). Retrieved from https://www.bop.gov/initiatives/aging_inmates/index.jsp [7] Keller, M. (2022). The Cost of Life Sentences in Kentucky. Kentucky Law Journal, 110(3), 527-552.
