The state has come up with a new plan to allow elderly and weak prison inmate to be released from prisons into nursing homes. There is precedence, however, the update to the plan is that the opportunity to live in a nursing home is now open to a wider variety of inmates. Those arguing in favor of this plan say that elderly inmates are no longer a threat to society. Therefore, they should be let out of prison.
The inmate program would be extended to criminals serving mandatory time for drug possession, murder, and rape. Those in opposition are against allowing these inmate’s transfers to the nursing homes because they still believe the inmates to be a threat to others. In addition, nursing home employees are very concerned that if they have criminals living in their homes it will be difficult to entice other residents to live there. They fear it would make their facilities look less desirable and unpleasant. Among those excluded from the plan to move into nursing homes are inmates on death row and those with dementia, because they still have “able bodies.” For more, read the story.
