You Are a Warden at a State Correctional Facility in Upstate

question 68

Essay

You are a warden at a state correctional facility in upstate New York. Your facility currently holds 400 inmates; 240 of them are over the age of 55. Most of these elderly offenders were incarcerated under the infamous drug statutes of the 1980s. In addition, a large percentage of these offenders have physical health issues related totheir age. As the warden, you are being pressured toreduce the overall operating costs of your facility, while simultaneously making sure that offenders carry out the duration of their sentences. You are currently contemplating the idea of asking toparole some of the elderly non-violent inmates whohave served a majority of their sentences, but you are fearful of the public and legislative backlash. What doyou doand why?

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Definitions:

Single Mother

A single mother is a woman who raises her child or children without the involvement or support of the child's father, due to various circumstances such as divorce, separation, death, or choice.

U.S. Birthrates

The statistical measure of the number of births per 1,000 people in the United States over a specified period of time.

15- To 16-Year-Old Girls

Adolescent females in the age range of fifteen to sixteen, often experiencing significant physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Decline

A decrease or deterioration in condition, quality, or level, often observed over time and in various contexts, including health, economic performance, and environmental conditions.