It's time to forgive and free older people from prison

By Antwann Lamont Johnson; the article appeared in the Prison Journal Project on September 2, 2023

As aging in prison becomes more commonplace, I've surveyed folks locked in Missouri prisons on their thought about the national problem.

I was specifically interested in two questions: what would getting released mean for you? And should incarcerated people who have shown remorse for their crimes, are older than 50, and are no longer a threat to the public have a second chance at freedom?

There are close to 2 million people incarcerated in the U.S., and more than 140,000 of those people, according to Prison Policy Initiative, are 55 and older.

States spend millions of dollars per year incarcerating aging people, who are far less likely to recommit a crime than younger people.

In Missouri, the state's 50-and-older population has nearly doubled since 2005, according to reporting from The Columbia Missourian. The state's compassionate release law allows for transfer of terminally ill prisoners to nursing homes, but there are few options to attain freedom for older people with long sentences. Legislators recently considered opening up parole to people 65 and older who had served 30 years or more of their life without parole sentence, but the bill died.

Robert Martin, who is in his nid-70s, said freeing older inmates would decease costs for the state of Missouri and, more importantly, ease the pain and suffering that older inmates experience.

"There is no comparison between society's medical treatment and prison medical practices," said Martin. "[I believe that] many inmates who have died, or could have had their diagnosis treated sooner, would have lived if they had received adequate treatment in society. The lack of medical treatment continues to haunt elderly inmates because many of their complaints and cries are ignored."

In prison you have no free will. You must continually ask permission for simple things, such as going outside or taking a shower. Phone calls are recorded and you're constantly surveilled. The chance for a return home could alleviate some of the mental challenges of incarceration.

Many older inmates said they felt guilty for not being present when a loved one died. Those who had lost a child or parent took it the hardest. Prison is also a burden on those who don't have loved ones anymore, either because their family members all died or because they have simply given up on their wellbeing. regardless, everyone agrees that freedom is priceless. People want to go fishing, camping, and even grocery shopping again.

Anthony "Buck" Morris, 65, has prostate cancer. In a past life, he was an amateur boxer and coach. I, too. lost my dream of boxing due to incarceration. Even now, Morris said, he feels he could help right his wrongs by coaching amateur boxers. Some prisoners said a return home would give them a chance to learn about advancements in technology and other changes in culture by getting to observe ordinary people in society. But especially important was the prospect of bonding with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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