2. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Elderly Prisoners- minimum 50 years of age
but normally defined as 55 or older
Geriatric offenders
Housing- general population with accommodations
Medical care- often chronic illnesses
Programs- exercise, rehabilitative, etc.
Release- government and social service assistance
3. Discussion Question
Should there be an age limit where prisoners
can be moved to a lower level security prison
or be released? What about terminally ill
prisoners?
4. 5 Factors Affecting Life in Prison
Increased number of elderly inmates
Number of inmates with HIV/AIDS
Mentally ill inmates
Long-term prisoners
Correctional policies required to address the
needs of incarcerated sexual minorities
5. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Prisoners with HIV/AIDS
Higher rate of infection than general
population
High-risk behaviors
IV drug use
Needle sharing
Unprotected sex
6. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Prisoners with HIV/AIDS
Segregation policies are controversial
Advocates
Prison violence decreases
HIV-infected inmates benefit from removal from the
general population
Additional health care and programs more available
Better living accommodations
More staff support and specialized care
7. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Prisoners with HIV/AIDS
Safe environment for staff
Correctional officers
Breaking up fights
Handling physically violent inmates
Chance of virus transmission are reportedly low
8. Discussion Question
What if you were a correctional guard in change
of inmates with HIV and AIDS; would you be
comfortable in this position? What
precautions would you take?
9. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Mentally Ill Prisoners
Deinstitutionalization increased inmate numbers
More likely among violent offenders
Less likely among drug offenders
Differs by age, race, and gender
Sexual abuse, homelessness, incarcerated family
member
11. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Mentally Ill Prisoners
Challenges for correctional officials
More fights
More rule violations
Counseling
Medication
12. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Psychotherapy
Treatment of the mind
Motivated, voluntary and free for patients shows
success
In prison can be coercive in nature showing lower
success rates
Psychotropic medications for 10% of prisoners
13. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Reality therapy
People’s problems decline when they behave
more responsibly
Emphasizes personal responsibility for actions and
their consequences
14. Confrontation therapy
Professional group leader encourages group
members to confront one another’s
rationalizations and manipulations which are
common in criminal thoughts and actions
Face-to-face with crime’s consequences for the
victim and society
The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
15. Transactional analysis
Focuses on the roles that people play with others
Patterns of interactions with others
Patterns that indicate personal problems
The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
16. Cognitive skill building
Focuses on the changing the thought patterns that
accompany criminal behavior
Focuses on changing the thinking and reasoning
patterns that accompany criminal behavior
The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
17. Discussion Question
Discuss the treatments available to the mentally
ill behind bars. What, if anything, can be done
to lower the cost of treatment while still
providing the necessary care?
18. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Long-Term Prisoners
310,000 prisoners serving at least 20 years
Each life sentence costs taxpayers
approximately $1 million
“Get tough” sentences mean more non-violent
long term inmates
Not generally control problems
19. The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
Long-Term Prisoners
Three main principles for managing long-term
inmates
Maximize opportunities for the inmates to exercise
choice in living conditions
Create opportunities for meaningful living
Help the inmates maintain contact with the outside
world
20. Examples of Programs for
Long-term Inmates
Thinking for change
Thinking errors
Anger Management Phase I and II
Parenting
Impact of Crime Phase I and II
Domestic Violence
Financial Literacy
Computer Literacy
21. Discussion Question
Does it seem plausible that some inmates may
continue to commit criminal acts in prison just
to avoid being released into an unknown and
unfamiliar world?
22. Sexual minority inmates
3.4% identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender
11% are male
28% are female
Sexual victimization
18.5% of gay or lesbian inmates were victims of
sexual abuse
The Challenge of Special
Populations in Corrections
23. Discussion Question
Discuss the issues associated with guarding
sexual-minorities inmates. Is extra protection
needed? If so, what kind?
Editor's Notes
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, September 2006), 1.