Jailhouse crocks: The sick old men waiting to die who make up more of America's jail population than ever - as the effects of tough sentencing kick in years later
- - Almost 250,000 federal and state prisoners are currently said to be classified as 'aging' or
'elderly' - - The costs of confining older prisoners are around double that of the average younger
inmate at $68,270 per year - - Three-strike laws and life-without-parole became popular ways to keep felons in jail,
causing soar in prison numbers
By STEVE NOLAN
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They may look old enough to know better than to turn to a life of crime.
But for many of America's burgeoning population of elderly prisoners, old habits die hard.
Some are repeat offenders who have spent much of their lives in and out of prison.
Others are still languishing behind bars paying the price for crimes committed in their younger days.
Either way, the soaring number of elderly prisoners in US jails is becoming a costly problem at a time when the country is looking to rein in its spending.
Old enough to know better: Nathan Brown is one of the oldest prisoners at Rhode Island's John J. Moran Medium Security Prison at 75
In poor health: David Smith, who is 70, is currently six years into a 40 year sentence for attempted murder: this is his fifth time in state prison, he has also served two sentences in federal prison
Growing old behind bars: A pair of dentures sit on a bed side table in the cell of David Smith at the Rhode Island prison
Repeat offender: John Armstrong who is 61 and is currently in the most advanced stage (stage four) of Hepatitis C, has been in and out of prison since the late 1970s
With many suffering failing health and the sort of medical gripes normally experienced by pensioners coupled with the stress of being kept behind bars, the price of keeping them there is increasingly expensive.
According to a 2012 report, the number of prisoners aged 55 or over in US prisons increased by more than 280 per cent between 1995 and 2010.
Almost 250,000 federal and state prisoners are currently said to be classified as 'aging' or 'elderly'.
But the costs of confining older prisoners are around double that of the average younger inmate at $68,270 per year.
The main reasons for the dramatic rise in the elderly incarcerated date back to the 1970s through the 1990s, when 'tough on crime' policies were brought in and a 'war on drugs' was declared.
Since then, mandatory-minimum sentencing, three-strike laws and life-without-parole have become popular techniques to keep those in prison behind bars, causing a rapid growth in the prison populate - including the aging and elderly - even though national crime rates decline.
Growing old: David Smith now suffers from a long list of medical problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, diabetes and ulcers
Costly: Smith, who was jailed for attempted murder, is pictured watching television with a huge pile of prescription drugs
Expensive treatment: Smith's list of medications includes an oxygen tank, 13 pills taken on various daily and weekly schedules, two
inhalers and daily insulin
Working: Only work he can do: Smith takes time to do his only daily chore of cleaning all the phones in the prison's communal area
Among the prisoners pictured here is 70-year-old David Smith, who is six years into a 40-year stretch for attempting to kill a relative.
This is his fifth time in state prison, he has also served two sentences in federal prison.
Smith says prior to his most recent conviction he was working as a mechanic, though illness and financial issues eventually led to him trying to murder his brother's sister.
He now suffers from a long list of medical problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, diabetes and ulcers.
His list of medications includes an oxygen tank, 13 pills taken on various daily and weekly schedules, two inhalers and daily insulin injections.
Smith is one of the rare prisoners who gets a cell to himself, due to his medical condition.
Wise cellmate: The ailing prisoner talks to a fellow prisoner at Rhode Island's John J. Moran Medium Security Prison from his wheelchair
You've got a friend: Smith enjoys the attention of a dog that is being trained by a fellow prisoner at the Rhode Island jail
Ill: Although he is only watching television, Smith finds it a struggle to breath and is seen putting an oxygen tube in his nostrils
He is currently one of 50 prisoners aged over 65 out of 1,020 inmates at Rhode Island's John J. Moran Medium Security Prison.
A fellow inmate, Nathan Brown, whose name has been changed at the request of prison authorities.
Blind in one eye and suffering from arthritis, 75-year-old Brown was jailed for 55 years for first degree sexual assault in 1992.
He has had several rounds of knee surgery and currently has an ear infection.
While he denies he committed the crime that saw him jailed, Brown refuses to undergo a sexual rehabilitation programme needed to see him eligible for parole.
Leisure time: 75-year-old Nathan brown who is serving 55 years for sexual assault is pictured playing chess with a fellow inmate
Life behind bars: Brown insists that he didn't commit the offence he was jailed for, but refuses to undertake a sexual rehabilitation course
to be eligible for parole
Free time: Brown, an arthritis sufferer who is blind in one eye, walks through the prison yard after spending some free time at the prison library
Home: Brown, who has undergone several rounds of knee surgery and is currently being treated for an ear infection, seen in his cell
A third Rhode Island prisoner, John Armstrong, is pictured watching television during free time in his cell.
Armstrong, who is 61 and is currently in the most advanced stage (stage four) of Hepatitis C, has been in and out of prison since the late 1970s.
The longest he served was 19 years for robbery (from a 25 year sentence), which lasted from 1987 until 2006. He said he used to rob people to buy cocaine.
Armstrong was out of prison on probation for 16 months when he was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon in 2007, which landed him back in jail. Prior to being thrown back in jail, Armstrong had planned on opening a barbershop.
Return to prison: Hepatitis C sufferer John Armstrong is pictured watching television in his cell. He has been in and out of prison since the 1970s
Old habits die hard: An equally elderly prison officer talks to Armstrong at the door of his cell. Armstrong had planned on going straight before his latest crime
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