Cost Quickly Rising for Florida's Aging Inmates

Article Tools Print This Page | Comments(0) | Suggest a Story

By WPTV

Published: 03/01/2004

Almost half of Florida's oldest convicts are in prison for sex crimes, a rate more than three times higher than the total prison population, an analysis of state prison records shows.
Of the inmates over age 80, 20 of 42 prisoners were imprisoned for sex crimes, or 48 percent, compared with 14 percent for all male inmates, according to an analysis of the Florida Department of Correction's prisoner database by The Associated Press. Another 17 inmates, or 41 percent, had been convicted of first or second-degree murder.
Of the 333 inmates between ages 70-79, 119 prisoners, or 36 percent, are in prison on sex crimes ranging from rape to sex with minors to sexually molesting children. Of the 1,560 prisoners between ages 60-69, 35 percent or 538 convicts are incarcerated for sexual offenses.
"In a large portion of the sex crimes, there is some dementia," Florida Deputy Corrections Secretary George Denman said.
In a Florida Corrections Commission report issued annually on elderly inmates, it acknowledged the age factor in sexual crimes.
"Offenses committed late in life may reflect biological changes due to the aging process. Chronic brain syndrome may be associated with loss of inhibitions leading to inappropriate sexual behavior," the commission reported.
The state's oldest prisoner, 90-year-old Daniel Sallade, is serving a 23-year sentence for three counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12. Sallade, who's been imprisoned since July 2001, was convicted in Lee County just before he turned 88.
As of June 30, 2000, about 30 percent of inmates age 50 and over were serving life sentences. Of those serving life sentences, 20 percent were serving life without parole.

Comments:

No comments have been posted for this article.

Login to let us know what you think

MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search