Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Donna J. Willmott and Heidi Strupp. Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, 1540 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415) 255-7036, donna@prisonerswithchildren.org

BACKGROUND: “Tough-on-crime” policies of the last two decades have led to a dramatic increase in the number of geriatric prisoners in the U.S. – a 450% increase that has created a human rights crisis in our prisons. It is projected that by 2030, one-third of the U.S. prison population will be geriatric. Human rights of the aged are explicitly set out in international covenants designed to protect the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that belong to all human beings. This study, based on both quantitative and qualitative data, documents the multiple impacts of long term incarceration on older women based on a human rights and public health perspective. METHODS: This study incorporates survey results and in-depth interviews with aging female prisoners in all three California state prisons for women. In August 2004, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children surveyed 120 women over the age of 55, out of a total geriatric female population of 353. Additionally, a total of 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with women from all three institutions as well as six interviews with friends and family members. RESULTS: There was a 59% response rate on the surveys. Nearly two-thirds were serving either 15 years-to-life or life without possibility of parole. Nearly half of women had been in prison for more than 15 years, and more than half were survivors of domestic violence. Five major violations of human rights were found: 1) The human right to the highest possible standard of health. 2) The human right to protection from neglect and all types of physical or mental abuse. 3) The human right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and shelter 4) The human right to social security, assistance and protection. 5) The human right to full and effective participation in all aspects of policital, economic, social and cultural life of society. CONCLUSIONS: The conditions of confinement for women prisoners in California violate many of the basic human rights standards that are designed to protect elderly people from violence and discrimination and assure their access to social support. Unless policy changes are made, the population of geriatric prisoners will grow exponentially. Affirming the rights of older prisoners, and advocating for alternatives to their incarceration is an issue for public health professionals and human rights activists alike.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate statistics about the aging population of women prisoners
• Define human rights issues relevant to elderly women prisoners

Keywords: Women's Health, Prisoners Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation