Publications
Older Prisoners: Letter to the Editor
2023
New York Times, Nov. 2, 2023
Ruth Finkelstein
To the Editor:
Re “Living Out the Twilight Years in Prison” (Opinion, Oct. 22), by Joseph Rodriguez and Carmilla Floyd, about older prisoners in California:
In New York State, we, too, face a troubling paradox as the imprisoned older population grows rapidly. One in four incarcerated individuals in the state is over 50, revealing an unsettling trend in which the prison population ages faster than our communities.
The drawbacks of incarcerating older individuals are numerous, outweighing any benefits. Prisons struggle to meet their specialized health care needs, resulting in higher costs. Many inmates have transformed during their sentences, acquiring education and skills to contribute positively to society. Moreover, statistics show that older individuals are unlikely to reoffend.
Two crucial bills, the Elder Parole Bill and the Fair and Timely Parole Act, offer a chance for those aged 55 and older, who have served 15 years, to appear before a parole board. Their release would be contingent on demonstrated rehabilitation and readiness to rejoin society.
When Gov. Kathy Hochul launched New York’s recent Master Plan for Aging, she said it was “to ensure that all New Yorkers can age with dignity and independence through policies that promote the value of healthy, meaningful aging.” New York has the opportunity to make this promise real for all older adults.
Kathryn Haslanger
Ruth K. Finkelstein
New York
Ms. Haslanger is C.E.O. of JASA, an organization serving older New Yorkers. Dr. Finkelstein is executive director of the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College.