FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Senate Criminal Justice Committee
November 4, 2009
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Elderly Offenders
§ Section 944.02, F.S., defines elderly offenders as “prisoners age 50 or older in a state correctional institution or facility operated by the Department of Corrections.”
§ The number of elderly offenders in the state correctional system has increased steadily and is expected to continue to increase over the next decade.
§ In FY 08-09, there were 15,201 elderly inmates in prison, which represented 15.1% of the total inmate population.
§ In FY 08-09:
o 95% of the elderly inmates in prison were male; 5% were female.
o 48% of the elderly inmates in prison had no prior prison commitments.
o The oldest male inmate admitted was 84; the oldest female admitted was 71.
o Of the 3,483 elderly inmate admissions, the majority were admitted for drug offenses (28.8%), followed by property crimes (27.2%), and violent offenses (25.2%).
Elderly Offenders and Health Care
§ Older inmates generally have poorer health due to lack of health care prior to incarceration and personal habits such as smoking and drug abuse.
§ In FY 08-09, elderly inmates were more likely to be a medical grade 2 (43%) or medical grade 3 (26%).
§ In FY 08-09, 46.3% of the inmates who had multiple admissions to hospitals were elderly.
§ In FY 08-09, elderly inmates accounted for 38.7% of all episodes of care and 42.3% of all hospital days although they only represented 15.1% of the total prison population.
§ In FY 07-08, elderly inmates accounted for 32% of the Department’s prescription drug expenditures.
Geriatric Facilities
§ The Department does not house inmates based solely on age. Elderly inmates are housed in most of the Department’s major institutions consistent with their custody level and medical status. However, there are certain facilities whose purpose is to house or care for elderly inmates.
§ Reception and Medical Center has a 100-bed licensed hospital on-site in Lake Butler, Florida, and also cares for chronically ill, elderly inmates in different dorms on campus.
§ The South Unit of the Central Florida Reception Center is specifically designated for elderly as well as palliative care inmates.
§ Zephyrhills CI has two dorms specifically designed for elderly inmates as well as inmates with complex medical needs
§ Lowell CI has a dorm specifically designated for female inmates with complex medical needs.
§ River Junction Work Camp is a work camp for elderly inmates.