Resource: J O'meara, Gregory. (2010) article in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings
Write and 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that summarizes the arguments for and against confining sick and older adult prisoners in jail.
Which of these arguments do they think have merit?
What values underlie each position?
How does medical parole or release fit into this discussion?
Provide alternative solutions to the problem and discuss their overall impacts.

Parole for the elderly

CJHS/430

Parole for the elderly

The idea of sympathetic release of ill and elderly prisoners is not new. In 1994, Professor Russell published consideration of medical parole and compassionate release programs of district and fifty states of Columbia. Only three …show more content…

With regard to the elderly, the program review committee at the housing institution could consider petitions filed by prisoners either 60 or 65 years old who had served substantial portions of their sentences. In addition to these petitions, those who had a “terminal
Condition” could file for modification. The law defined “terminal condition” as a fatal condition afflicting person, caused by wound, illness or disease, as result of which person has medical prediction that his or her life hope is 6 months or less even with life-sustaining treatment provided in accordance with current standard of medical care.
Wisconsin’s new compassionate release law simplifies earlier procedures and expands the class of inmates who can petition for sentence modification. The statute retains the distinction between those petitioning for compassionate release because of age and those who petition for reasons of ill health. The age qualifications track the previous legislation; however, the new provision no longer bars petitions by elderly inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. The second category of “extraordinary health condition” may signal greater eligibility to petition under the law.
Anyone claiming “advanced age, infirmity, or disability of the person or a need for medical treatment or services not available within a correctional institution” may now petition for compassionate release. Initially, one must applaud Wisconsin’s willingness to revisit