Aging Prisoners Burden Penitentiaries

Older prison inmates, generally classified as over 55, cost three times as much to house as younger inmates. They cost more because they are sicker, and even their basic medical care is expensive.

See also: What it’s really like inside prison.

Many states find themselves in the business of running barbed wire nursing homes. With state budget cuts and the high cost of health care, how will these challenges affect the way we incarcerate aging inmates?