|
|
 |
US-AGING-PRISONERS-MAKE-UP-FASTEST-GROWING-SEGMENT-OF-NATION'S-P
CRANSTON, RI - DECEMBER 10: David Smith (his name has been changed at the request of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, both to protect him and the identity of people and victims associated with his crime), a prisoner at Rhode Island's John J. Moran Medium Security Prison, watches television during free time in his wheel chair on December 10, 2013 in Cranston, Rhode Island. Smith, who is 70, is currently six years into a 40 year sentence for attempted murder: this is his fifth time in state prison, he has also served two sentences in federal prison. Smith says prior to his most recent conviction he was working as a mechanic, though illness and financial issues eventually led to him trying to murder his brother's sister. He now suffers from a long list of medical problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, diabetes and ulcers. His list of medications includes an oxygen tank, 13 pills taken on various daily and weekly schedules, two inhalers and daily insulin injections. Smith is one of the rare prisoners who gets a cell to himself, due to his medical condition .Of John J. Moran Medium Security prison's 1020 inmates, approximately 50 are 65 or older. The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world - as of 2010 the national prison population was approximately 2.26 million people. According to a 2012 Human Rights Watch report, between 1995 and 2010, the total number of state and federal prisoners increased by 42%, while the number of prisoners 55-and-older skyrocketed by 282% to 124,400 prisoners. The reasons for the dramatic rise in the elderly incarcerated date back to the 1970s through the 1990s, when "tough on crime" policies were enacted and the "war on drugs" was declared. Since then, mandatory-minimum sentencing, three-strike laws and life-without-parole have become popular techniques to keep those in prison behind bars, causing a rapid growth in the prison populate - including the aging and el== FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==
|
|
|
|
Detalii fotografie |
| Loc: |
|
Cranston, Rhode Island, UNITED STATES |
|
| Sursa: |
|
AFP / Mediafax Foto |
|
| Fotograf: |
|
Andrew Burton |
|
| Data: |
|
11 Decembrie 2013 |
|
| Dimensiuni: |
|
3000 x 2000 (1.05 MB) |
|
|
|
|
|
|