Book Review: Aging in prison: The integration of research and practice

• Date: 01 June 2019
• Published date: 01 June 2019
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016814556290
• Author: Breanne Pleggenkuhle
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Hurley, M. H. (2014).

Aging in prison: The integration of research and practice. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press. 187 pp. $26.28

(paperback), ISBN 978-1-59460-994-7.

Reviewed by: Breanne Pleggenkuhle, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA

DOI: 10.1177/0734016814556290

Over the past four decades, rapidly growing prison populations have produced a variety of unin-

tended consequences. Often postincarceration experiences such as employment and housing are con-

sidered; additional consequences such as the expense of maintaining the phenomenon of mass

incarceration and supervising changing populations have also arisen. In Aging in Prison: The Inte-

gration of Research and Practice, Martha H. Hurley highlights the growing population of elderly

offenders in American prisons. Providing an overview of policies that have contributed to changing

prison populations, trends over time, and specific issues challenging elderly inmates, Hurley draws

attention to an often-overlooked prison population.

Hurley begins the book by using the first three chapters to highlight policies that increase the pop-

ulation of aging offenders, various definitions of elderly offenders, and general trends (statistics and

changes over time) of older inmates. Chapter 1 provides an overview of broad correctional trends,

including philosophical and policy changes. Using tables and figures to provide evidence of the

incarceration boom, particularly emphasizing the impact of the war on drugs, the authors illustrate

general prison populations and identify the main causes of elderly inmates. Shrewdly included is a

brief introduction of the problems aging inmates face as well as the legally required provisions for

aged populations. Chapter 2 continues with an extended introduction of defining the key terms and

concepts regarding aging offenders. Here there is more specific narrative as to what identifies what

constitutes an elderly offender and more salient detail to the long-term offender population statistics.

The discussion benefits from a brief exploration into special populations, such as women and mino-

rities, that are particularly impacted by longer sentencing strategies (and henceforth aging in prison).

The highlight of the account is the introduction of the topic of ‘‘what next,’’ evaluating the general

obstacles of release from prison and describing how adjustment may be particularly difficult for

long-term and elderly offenders. Chapter 3 segues into specific details regarding elderly offenders,

exploring costs and needs of this population. Paralleling an aging general population, prisons are

now reevaluating policies regarding elderly prisons and finding a need to redirect funding to some

of the primary issues. A question Hurley highlights is the difficulty in establishing what defines an

elderly offender, particularly in comparison to the general population. The variation in types of

elderly offenders (e.g., first-time offenders vs. career criminals) is well defined and brings light

to the variance even within the elderly populations.

The following three chapters offer more specific details about the particular needs and challenges

facing elderly offenders. Chapter 4 specifically describes the health needs of elderly inmates. Recog-

nizing the health challenges of prisons overall, such as the spread of infectious diseases and the dif-

ficulty of treatment, the need for specific attention paid to elderly inmates is justified. Most attention

Criminal Justice Review

2019, Vol. 44(2) 244-248

ª2014 Georgia State University

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