What happens to older inmates when they are released from prison?
Angela Murolo, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at St. Francis College, takes a look at who is willing to help this population.
Angela S. Murolo, PhD is an Assistant Professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. She has written several articles on correctional responses to geriatric inmates, the increasingly older prison population, and geriatric parole. She has experience publishing as a solo-author and co-author in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Correctional Healthcare, Journal of Qualitative Criminology and Criminal Justice, SN Social Sciences and CUNY Law Review. She is currently contracted to write a book based on her dissertation research with NYU Press.
Dr. Lena Campagna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Caldwell University. Her research trajectory focuses on help-seeking behaviors, reentry, and social support for those impacted by various parts of the criminal legal system. Dr. Campagna has experience publishing as both a co-author and solo-author in empirical, peer-reviewed journals such as International Review of Victimology, Law and Society Review, and Journal of Criminal Justice Education.
Community Support for Older People Leaving Prison
Since the tough on crime era, the prison population has rapidly grayed and upwards of 95% of the incarcerated community will be released from prison. Thus, more people over the age of 55 are returning to our communities following incarceration. This growth puts parole officers, reentry organizations and social service providers in the position of having to provide assistance and support to an older clientele. To grasp the communities’ understanding of the problem a survey was conducted across the state of New Jersey to ascertain the services that are available for people over 55 years old who were formerly incarcerated. Dr. Campagna and I also investigated organizations’ willingness to support this population through support groups, peer support groups, and other programs. Organizations providing educational, social services, reentry services and community health were the primary respondents in this study. The primary services provided by these organizations included social services assistance, housing and educational assistance. Respondents reported they would be likely to support peer support groups and “other programs” for older people leaving prison.
Reentry and social support organizations were most likely to support peer support groups or other programs. While older people leaving prisons return with substantial challenges, there are organizations that are willing to support their reentry efforts. As parole is often the first stop upon release, community based organizations are willing to collaborate with parole to support older people returning from prisons. Public and private partnerships are necessary to provide a seamless transition into the community. Adequate healthcare, social connections and support are necessary for successful reintegration and a good quality of life as one ages.
Read More:
[Journal of Criminal Justice] – Are You Willing to Help Me? An Analysis of Community Supports for Elderly People Leaving Prison
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