Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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A Wisconsin program that allows elderly and severely ill prisoners to be released early from prison could save state taxpayers millions of dollars a year.
But thousands of the state’s elderly prisoners — many of whom prison officials acknowledge pose little or no risk of committing new crimes — aren’t allowed to apply, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found.
More than 1,200 people age 60 and older were serving time in Wisconsin prisons as of Dec. 31, 2016, the most recent count available.
By one estimate, the average cost to incarcerate each of them is $70,000 a year — for an annual total of $84 million.
Last year, just six inmates were freed under the program.
Among those who didn’t qualify were a blind quadriplegic and a 65-year-old breast cancer survivor who uses a breathing machine and needs a wheelchair to make it from her cell to the prison visiting room.
Little-used program
Around the country, early release provisions for elderly and infirm prisoners are billed as a way to address problems such as prison overcrowding, skyrocketing budgets and civil rights lawsuits alleging inadequate medical care.
But throughout the U.S., they are used so infrequently that they aren’t having much impact.
Release programs for sick and elderly prisoners could save millions. But states rarely use them.
I'm a fan of truth in sentencing laws.
But thousands of the state’s elderly prisoners — many of whom prison officials acknowledge pose little or no risk of committing new crimes — aren’t allowed to apply, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found.
More than 1,200 people age 60 and older were serving time in Wisconsin prisons as of Dec. 31, 2016, the most recent count available.
By one estimate, the average cost to incarcerate each of them is $70,000 a year — for an annual total of $84 million.
Last year, just six inmates were freed under the program.
Among those who didn’t qualify were a blind quadriplegic and a 65-year-old breast cancer survivor who uses a breathing machine and needs a wheelchair to make it from her cell to the prison visiting room.
Little-used program
Around the country, early release provisions for elderly and infirm prisoners are billed as a way to address problems such as prison overcrowding, skyrocketing budgets and civil rights lawsuits alleging inadequate medical care.
But throughout the U.S., they are used so infrequently that they aren’t having much impact.
Release programs for sick and elderly prisoners could save millions. But states rarely use them.
I'm a fan of truth in sentencing laws.
