Tallahassee, FL (WTXL) -- TaxWatch estimates that health care for will reach $11,000 for each of Florida's 25,000 elderly prisoners in 2015 and recommends shortening sentences.
The report Florida's Aging Prisoner Problem states that the growing elderly prison population will soon require higher medical care.
Increased health care will create a burden on The Department of Correction's budget and will require additional funds.
Florida TaxWatch recommends that elderly non-violent offenders who need "end-of-life" care or are close to their release date be given clemency.
Dominic Calabro, President of TaxWatch, says "Community safety is the first thing to consider when addressing criminal justice reform, but Florida has options to reduce costs and actually improve public safety."
TaxWatch also recommends an analysis of prisoner's health care costs and projections of elderly prison growth to help assess and manage the situation.
Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit taxpayer research institute.
