Elderly prisoners

CRIME is, for the most part, a young person’s game. Study after study shows that the tendency to engage in illegal activity peaks in adolescence and early adulthood and then declines through the later years.

With that in mind, state Sen. Joe Hardy, a Las Vegas Republican, offers Senate Bill 140. It would authorize the release of some older Nevada inmates who were convicted of nonviolent crimes. The measure passed the upper chamber 13-8 last week and now awaits action in the Assembly.

A 2012 report by the ACLU found that states spend $16 billion a year keeping elderly prisoners behind bars despite the fact that most pose little threat to the public. A 2013 USA Today story noted that, “The growing number of older prisoners … represents a potential fiscal time bomb for the state and nation.”

Sen. Hardy’s bill applies only to those over the age of 65 and exempts those behind bars for violent crimes. In fact, only two inmates would currently be eligible were his proposal to become law.

Nevada statutes already allow the prison director to authorize the release of inmates if they become physically incapacitated and no longer pose a threat or they are in the latter stages of terminal illness. Sen. Hardy’s proposal adds another tool to help the state better manage its older prisoners.

Yes, those who commit crimes later in life deserve to be held accountable for their actions. Age shouldn’t become a “get out of jail free” card. But there are ways to hold these offenders responsible — particularly nonviolent ones — that don’t involve filling up limited prison space or driving up prison medical costs.

Senate Bill 140 is a reasonable and compassionate measure that deserves support.

The views expressed above are those of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. All other opinions expressed on the Opinion and Commentary pages are those of the individual artist or author indicated.