cost of elderly prisoners
Elderly more expensive. A 2012 ACLU study estimated that it costs nearly $70,000 a year to house a prisoner over 50, compared with an average of $34,135 for a younger inmate. The increase is primarily driven by much higher health care costs for the older population.ealth care costs for older inmates skyrocket. The growing number of older prisoners represents a potential fiscal time bomb. Elderly prisoners cost more because almost all expenses related to their health care must be borne by state tax dollars.
If it costs New Jersey an average of $71,000 to care for each elderly inmate, as one study suggests, that would cost taxpayers $21.3 million -- about double the cost for the same number of younger, healthy inmates.ealth care costs for older inmates skyrocket. The growing number of older prisoners represents a potential fiscal time bomb. Elderly prisoners cost more because almost all expenses related to their health care must be borne by state tax dollars.