Aging Behind Bars: Trends and Implications of Graying Prisoners in the Federal Prison System

This new Urban Institute study provides an in-depth examination of the growth patterns in the largest correctional system in the United Statesthe US Bureau of Prisons. The number of prisoners age 50 or older experienced a 330 percent increase from 1994 to 2011. The authors find that the proportion of these older prisoners is expected to have an even steeper growth curve in the near future and they may consume a disproportionately large amount of the federal prison budget. Recommendations for policy and research include expanding data-driven knowledge on older prisoners and developing cost-effective management plans for them.