GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: Older people in Georgia's prisons: cost, reoffending and release routes ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-10-30 01:27:59 EDT Research Date: 2026-10-28 Topic: aging prisoners; geriatric parole; medical reprieve; prison health-care costs; recidivism by age; county jail backlog JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/older-people-in-georgias-prisons-cost-reoffending-and-release-routes/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- This collection sets out facts from public sources on the subject in its title, drawn from Georgia, federal sources, Alabama, California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and other sources. Each entry gives a short statement, the exact passage from the source that supports it, and the source's title, web address and the date it was retrieved. Searches of a source that found no match are listed too, with the wordings that were tried. The entries record what each source said when it was retrieved. They aren't a complete account of the subject, and they don't add analysis or conclusions. LEGAL FACTS (18) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Definition of debilitating terminal illness O.C.G.A. § 42-9-43(b) defines 'debilitating terminal illness' as a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in death within 12 months. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-43 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [reported] No legal right to medical reprieve The Southern Center for Human Rights' Parole Handbook states that no one has a legal right to a medical reprieve, and that approval by the person's doctor or the GDC Statewide Medical Director does not ensure a medical reprieve because the Parole Board makes the final decision to grant or deny. Tags: medical,parole,legal,policy Sources: pap.georgia.gov: parole handbook - [confirmed] Louisiana geriatric parole eligibility at age 60 after 10 years served Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:574.4 makes a person committed to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections eligible for parole consideration upon reaching age 60 if they have served at least ten years of the term in actual custody, subject to exclusions. Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: parole,legal,policy Sources: Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:15:574.4 - Parole; eligibility; juvenile offenders :: 2025 Louisiana Laws :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia - [confirmed] Definition of entirely incapacitated O.C.G.A. § 42-9-43(b) defines 'entirely incapacitated' as an offender who requires assistance to perform two or more necessary daily life functions or is completely immobile, and who poses an extremely low risk of physical threat to others or the community. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-43 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [reported] Serious violent felony medical reprieve criteria The Southern Center for Human Rights' Parole Handbook states that for individuals serving a sentence for a serious violent felony, medical reprieves are only granted if the person is terminally ill with less than six months to live and is completely incapacitated. Tags: medical,parole,legal,policy Sources: pap.georgia.gov: parole handbook - [confirmed] Louisiana geriatric parole excludes violent and sex offenses Louisiana's geriatric parole eligibility provision excludes offenders convicted of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, regardless of the date of conviction. Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: parole,legal,policy Sources: Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:15:574.4 - Parole; eligibility; juvenile offenders :: 2025 Louisiana Laws :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia - [confirmed] Medical reprieve authority for entirely incapacitated persons O.C.G.A. § 42-9-43(b)(2) provides that the Board may issue a medical reprieve to an entirely incapacitated person suffering a progressively debilitating terminal illness in accordance with Article IV, Section II, Paragraph II of the Georgia Constitution. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-43 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [confirmed] New York S2423 Elder Parole bill status New York Senate Bill S2423 (Elder Parole) is listed on the New York State Senate's official bill-tracking page as being in the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: parole,legal,policy Sources: NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2423 - [confirmed] Life without parole ineligibility for release O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7(b)(2) provides that a person sentenced to life without parole for a second serious violent felony is not eligible for any form of pardon, parole, or early release or for earned time, early release, work release, leave or other sentence-reducing measures, except as may be authorized by any existing or future provisions of the Constitution. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 17-10-7 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [confirmed] Bar on sentence reduction for certain offenses O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1(f) bars earned time, early release, work release, leave or other sentence-reducing measures, and 'any form of pardon, parole, or commutation of sentence by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles,' for sentences imposed under that Code section, other than final-year eligibility for a transitional center or work release program. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 17-10-6.1 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [confirmed] 30-year minimum for certain murder sentences O.C.G.A. § 42-9-39(b) requires a person convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment who has previously been incarcerated under a life sentence to serve at least 30 years in the penitentiary before being granted a pardon and before becoming eligible for parole. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-39 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [confirmed] Georgia Constitution authorizes parole of anyone age 62 or older ACLU of Georgia's press release states that the Georgia Constitution authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to 'parole any person who is age 62 or older.' Tags: parole,legal,policy Sources: ACLU Urges State Parole Board to Use Its Constitutional Power to Release Those Age 62 and Older - ACLU of Georgia - [confirmed] Constitutional medical reprieve and age-62 parole authority The Georgia Constitution, Article IV, Section II, Paragraph II(e), authorizes the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to issue a medical reprieve to an entirely incapacitated person suffering a progressively debilitating terminal illness, or to parole any person who is age 62 or older, notwithstanding any other provisions of that Paragraph. Tags: legal,parole,medical Sources: sos.ga.gov: state constitution - [confirmed] 15-day transfer requirement and county reimbursement Under O.C.G.A. § 42-5-51(c), after proper documentation is received from the clerk of court, GDC has 15 days to transfer a sentenced inmate to its custody; if the inmate is not transferred within 15 days, the department must reimburse the county at least $7.50 per day per inmate, commencing 15 days after the documentation is received. Tags: legal,budget,transfers Sources: Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-5-51 (GPS's copy of the Code) - [confirmed] Constitution allows mandatory minimum sentences without parole for certain violent felonies Georgia's Constitution allows the General Assembly, by a two-thirds roll-call vote in each branch, to provide minimum mandatory sentences required to be served in their entirety for persons convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, or aggravated sexual battery, during which the Board of Pardons and Paroles has no authority to consider such persons for pardon, parole, or commutation. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: sos.ga.gov: state constitution - [reported] Alabama geriatric inmate definition Alabama's Medical Furlough Act defines a 'geriatric inmate' as a person 55 years of age or older convicted of a non-capital felony offense and sentenced to the penitentiary, who suffers from a chronic life-threatening infirmity, life-threatening illness, or chronic debilitating disease related to aging, who poses a low risk. Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: Alabama Code § 14-14-2 (2025) - Definitions. :: 2025 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia - [reported] California Elderly Parole Program eligibility California's Elderly Parole Program is administered by the Board of Parole Hearings for reviewing the parole suitability of any inmate who is 50 years of age or older and has served a minimum of 20 years of continuous incarceration on the inmate's current sentence. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: Codes Display Text - [reported] California Elderly Parole Program exclusions California's Elderly Parole Program statute states it does not apply to cases sentenced pursuant to Section 1170.12, subdivisions (b) to (i) inclusive of Section 667, or to life without parole or death sentences. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: Codes Display Text FINDINGS (9) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Parole Board rarely grants medical reprieves The Southern Center for Human Rights' Parole Handbook states the Parole Board rarely grants medical reprieves. Tags: medical,parole,legal Sources: pap.georgia.gov: parole handbook - [reported] GDC FY2014 strategic plan flagged aging inmate population GDC's FY2014 Annual Report listed 'Aging inmate population' and 'Rising healthcare costs' among 'The Challenges' in its strategic plan. Tags: medical,budget,policy,facilities Sources: GDC Annual Fiscal Report 2014 - [reported] Bill would raise county per-day reimbursement from $7.50 to $30.00 The House Judiciary, Non Civil committee substitute would change the minimum per-day-per-inmate reimbursement the department pays a county from $7.50 to $30.00. Tags: legislation,budget,policy Sources: 26 LC 48 1811S - [reported] Board of Corrections discussed aging population September 2025 At a Georgia Board of Corrections meeting, Mr. Hogan discussed the aging population along with the Mental Health Population, sentence length, and sentencing trends. Tags: policy,mental_health,operations Sources: Board of Corrections Meeting Minutes, September 4, 2025 - [reported] Age-62 parole power never set into motion Inquest reported that although the Georgia Constitution lets the Board of Pardons and Paroles 'parole any person who is age 62 or older,' that is not something the parole board has ever set into motion. Tags: parole,legal,policy Sources: Too Little, Too Late - Hannah Riley - Inquest - [reported] Twelve states have geriatric parole, including Georgia Twelve states have geriatric parole: Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: parole,policy,legal Sources: Virginia State Crime Commission - [reported] Vera: many geriatric release provisions 'mostly ineffectual' The Vera Institute report states that many states that have enacted geriatric release policies have not realized a decrease in their prison populations or the savings they may have anticipated, describing the provisions analyzed as 'mostly ineffectual.' Tags: parole,policy Sources: It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [2] - [reported] Inability to determine total health care cost per inmate Georgia's Department of Audits and Accounts found that since GDC does not allocate health care costs to individual inmates, it is not possible to determine the total cost of providing health care to an inmate or a group of inmates, but limited available cost information and numerous studies indicate that aged inmates are more costly than other inmates and more likely to require a medical bed; inmates age 50 and above are typically classified as aged inmates. Tags: medical,budget,data_gap Sources: Performance (audits.ga.gov) - [reported] 49 states and DC provide compassionate release; only Iowa lacks law FAMM found that 49 states and the District of Columbia provide one or more forms of compassionate release, and that only Iowa has no specific compassionate release law or regulation. Tags: legal,policy,medical Sources: Everywhere (famm.org) STATISTICS (46) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Maryland Unger release recidivism under 3 percent Of 188 people released under the Maryland Unger ruling, only five returned to prison for a parole violation or a new crime, an overall recidivism rate of under 3 percent, compared with a 40 percent recidivism rate for all persons released from Maryland prisons. Value: 3.0 percent recidivism (under) (vs. 40 percent recidivism for all Maryland releases) Date: 2018-01-01 Tags: reentry,parole,legal Sources: November, 2018 (justicepolicy.org) - [reported] State prison health care spending in fiscal 2015 States spent $8.1 billion on prison health care in fiscal 2015, probably about a fifth of overall prison expenditures. Value: 8.1 billion dollars Date: 2015-01-01 Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] 250 Maryland inmates affected by 2012 Unger decision As of the 2012 Unger decision, 250 Maryland inmates were affected, convicted before 1981 under jury instructions that told juries the court's instructions on the law were merely advisory; of these 250, all but one were male. Value: 250.0 inmates Date: 2012-01-01 Tags: legal,demographics Sources: More Than 130 Maryland Lifers Adjust To Freedom After Court Ruling : NPR - [reported] Increase in older prison population 2010-2015 Among 44 states that reported population data by age to Pew and Vera, the number of older individuals increased by a median of 41 percent from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2015, expanding from 7 percent of the total to 10 percent. Value: 41.0 percent Tags: demographics,trend Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] Georgia corrections health care spending FY2010 Georgia's total corrections department health care spending (adjusted for inflation, 2015 dollars) was $226,592,309 in FY2010. Value: 226592309.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] FY2026 $6 per diem increase for County Correctional Institutions The FY2026 General appropriations bill increases funds for a $6 per diem increase for County Correctional Institutions, with State General Funds of $9,975,450. Value: 9975450.0 USD Tags: budget,policy,facilities Sources: HB 68 (FY2026) Criminal Justice and Public Safety budget, Georgia General Assembly - [reported] Michigan sex-offense recidivism 0.8 percent Of 4,109 people in Michigan who had been serving for a sex offense, 32 (0.8 percent) returned to prison for a new sex offense. Value: 0.8 percent returned for new sex offense (vs. 32 people returned to prison) Tags: reentry,parole Sources: Paroling people who - [reported] Georgia corrections health care spending FY2015 Georgia's total corrections department health care spending (adjusted for inflation, 2015 dollars) was $199,359,072 in FY2015. Value: 199359072.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] County Correctional Institution expenditures FY 2024 Georgia's total expenditures for housing offenders at contracted County Correctional Institutions were $36,721,625 in FY 2024. Value: 36721625.0 USD Tags: budget,facilities Sources: HB 68 (FY2026) Criminal Justice and Public Safety budget, Georgia General Assembly - [reported] New York 2018 cohort: 40% of releases under 21 returned to custody Among New York's 2018 release cohort, 40% of individuals under 21 at release returned to DOCCS' custody within three years, while 31% of those 21 or older returned to custody. Value: 40.0 percent returned to custody (vs. 31 percent of those 21+ returned to custody) Tags: reentry,parole,demographics Sources: 2018 Releases from Custody - [reported] 49-state median per-inmate health care spending FY2012 The 49-state median per-inmate corrections department health care spending, adjusted for inflation (2015 dollars), was $5,596 in FY2012. Value: 5596.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] County Jail Subsidy expenditures FY 2021-FY 2024 Georgia's total expenditures for County Jail Subsidy were $0.00 in FY 2021, $810.00 in FY 2022, $0.00 in FY 2023 and $0.00 in FY 2024. Value: 810.0 USD Tags: budget,facilities Sources: HB 68 (FY2026) Criminal Justice and Public Safety budget, Georgia General Assembly - [reported] New York 2018 cohort: 9.2% return rate for releases 65 and over In a New York release cohort, the three-year total return-to-custody rate was 9.2% for people released at age 65 and over, compared to 40.3% for those released under age 21. Value: 9.2 percent returned to custody (vs. 40.3 percent of those under 21 returned to custody) Tags: reentry,parole,demographics Sources: 2018 Releases from Custody - [reported] 49-state median per-inmate health care spending FY2015 The 49-state median per-inmate corrections department health care spending, adjusted for inflation (2015 dollars), was $5,720 in FY2015. Value: 5720.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] Georgia per-inmate health care spending FY2010 Georgia's per-inmate corrections department health care spending, adjusted for inflation (2015 dollars), was $3,871 in FY2010. Value: 3871.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] FY25 health contract increase $131,690,381 GDC's FY25 Annual Report budget highlights attribute a $131,690,381 increase to 'Physical health, pharmacy, mental health, and dental health contract increases due to increased population, agency-managed electronic health records, and physical health risk share.' Value: 131690381.0 USD Tags: medical,mental_health,budget Sources: FY25 (gdc.georgia.gov) - [reported] Georgia per-inmate health care spending FY2015 Georgia's per-inmate corrections department health care spending, adjusted for inflation (2015 dollars), was $3,610 in FY2015, a 7 percent decrease from FY2010. Value: 3610.0 dollars (vs. 3871 FY2010) Tags: budget,medical Sources: A report from Oct 2017 - [reported] North Carolina FY2006-07 older inmate health cost $5,425 In fiscal year 2006-2007 North Carolina spent an average of $5,425 per inmate who was 50 and older to provide medication and dental, medical, and mental health care, more than four times what it spent on younger inmates. Value: 5425.0 dollars per inmate Tags: medical,budget,conditions Sources: It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [1] - [reported] Elderly incarcerated people have five times as many health facility visits Elderly individuals in prison have five times as many visits to health facilities per year than similarly aged people who are not incarcerated. Value: 5.0 times as many health facility visits Tags: medical,conditions Sources: It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [1] - [reported] Prisons spend two to three times more on geriatric incarceration Vera Institute's report states that prisons spend about two to three times more to incarcerate geriatric individuals than younger inmates, and that according to a 2004 NIC report, the annual cost to imprison an older person was an estimated $70,000. Value: 70000.0 dollars per year Date: 2004-01-01 Tags: budget,medical,conditions Sources: It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [1] - [reported] Parole Board granted 20 of 34 medical reprieve requests (68.1%) A representative of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety that the board granted 20 of 34 medical reprieve requests (68.1%) in the first half of the reporting period, and reported 304 reprieves granted over 11 years. Value: 68.1 percent Tags: medical,parole,legal Sources: Parole board outlines medical-reprieve criteria, reports 68% grant rate in recent six months | Citizen Portal - [reported] 304 medical reprieves granted over 11 years The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles reported 304 reprieves granted over 11 years. Value: 304.0 reprieves Tags: medical,parole Sources: Parole board outlines medical-reprieve criteria, reports 68% grant rate in recent six months | Citizen Portal - [reported] 820 persons eligible for geriatric parole in Virginia as of July 31, 2022 As of July 31, 2022, there were 820 persons eligible for geriatric parole in Virginia. Value: 820.0 persons Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: parole,demographics Sources: Virginia State Crime Commission - [reported] Virginia geriatric parole decisions and grants by year (2018-2021) In Virginia, the Parole Board's geriatric conditional release decisions and grants were: 2018: 725 decisions, 55 grants; 2019: 759 decisions, 24 grants; 2020: 901 decisions, 77 grants; 2021 (partial): 566 decisions, 21 grants. Value: 55.0 grants in 2018 (vs. 21 grants in 2021 (partial)) Tags: parole,policy Sources: Virginia State Crime Commission - [reported] Parole Board reported 68.1% medical-reprieve grant rate for July-Dec The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Parole told a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee it granted 20 of 34 medical-reprieve requests in the July-Dec reporting period, a 68.1% grant rate, and described statutory standards for eligibility and the interagency review and required 90-day notice to district attorneys for serious-violent felons. Value: 68.1 percent Tags: medical,parole,legal Sources: Board of Pardons details medical-reprieve process and recent grant rates | Citizen Portal - [reported] ACLU: aging prisoner costs $68,270 per year vs. $34,135 average The ACLU report found that it costs $34,135 per year to house an average prisoner nationwide, but $68,270 per year to house a prisoner age 50 and older. Value: 68270.0 dollars per year (vs. 34135 dollars per year for average prisoner) Tags: budget,conditions Sources: aclu.org: elderlyprisonreport 20120613 1 - [reported] ACLU: states save $66,294 per aging prisoner released per year Each aging prisoner on average costs taxpayers $68,270 per year, approximately double what it costs to incarcerate an average prisoner, and states on average will save $66,294 per aging prisoner released per year. Value: 66294.0 dollars saved per release per year Tags: budget,reentry Sources: aclu.org: elderlyprisonreport 20120613 1 - [reported] BOP aging-heavy institutions spent 5x more on medical care BOP institutions with the highest percentages of aging inmates in their population spent five times more per inmate on medical care ($10,114) than institutions with the lowest percentage of aging inmates ($1,916), and 14 times more per inmate on medication ($684) than institutions with the lowest percentage ($49). Value: 10114.0 USD per inmate (vs. 1916 lowest-aging institutions medical care per inmate) Tags: medical,budget,demographics Sources: Office of the Inspector General - [reported] NIC: older inmate health care costs three times typical adult inmate The NIC report states that the cost of providing health care to older inmates has been reported as three times the cost for the typical adult inmate, citing Faiver (1998). Value: 3.0 times typical adult inmate health care cost Date: 1998-01-01 Tags: medical,budget Sources: static.prisonpolicy.org: 018735 - [reported] 27 states define 'older prisoner'; most use age 50 According to a survey cited by the Vera Institute, at least 27 states have a definition for who is an 'older prisoner': 15 states used 50 years as the cutoff, five states used 55, four states used 60, two states used 65, and one used age 70. Value: 27.0 states with a definition (vs. 15 states using age 50 cutoff) Tags: policy,demographics Sources: It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [2] - [reported] FY2013 federal aging inmate cost $24,538 vs $22,676 younger In FY 2013, the average aging inmate cost $24,538 to incarcerate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, whereas the average younger inmate cost $22,676. Value: 24538.0 USD per inmate (vs. 22676 average younger inmate cost) Tags: budget,demographics Sources: Office of the Inspector General - [reported] 2011 jail backlog of state inmates In 2011, before passage of any reform bills, Georgia's corrections system had a backlog of more than 4,000 state inmate commitments held at county prisons awaiting transfer. Value: 4000.0 inmates Date: 2011-01-01 Tags: transfers,facilities Sources: DOAA Bed Demand & Agency Strategy Report (2018-12) - [reported] Federal rearrest 67.6% for under-21 releases vs 13.4% for 65+ Among federal offenders released younger than age 21, 67.6 percent were rearrested compared to 13.4 percent of those released age 65 or older. Value: 13.4 percent (vs. 67.6 rearrest rate for releases under age 21) Tags: reentry,demographics Sources: The Effects of Aging on Recidivism Among Federal Offenders - [reported] Aged inmates' share of health care claims FY2003 A review of medical claims paid by GCHC found that aged inmates comprised 9.7% of the population delivered health care by GCHC in fiscal year 2003 but accounted for 28.6% of all claims submitted. Value: 28.6 percent (vs. 9.7 percent of population) Tags: medical,budget Sources: Performance (audits.ga.gov) - [reported] Aged inmates' average claim cost higher Aged inmates' claims were an average of 10% higher ($356 vs. $324) than claims for other inmates. Value: 356.0 dollars (vs. 324 dollars for other inmates) Tags: medical,budget Sources: Performance (audits.ga.gov) - [reported] Older inmates 20 times more likely to need special medical bed According to a study conducted for GDC by Barrell and Associates in 1998, inmates age 50 and older were 20 times more likely to be assigned to a special medical bed than younger inmates. Value: 20.0 times more likely Date: 1998-01-01 Tags: medical Sources: Performance (audits.ga.gov) - [reported] Infirmary bed usage by age May 2004 A review of infirmary bed usage in May 2004 showed that 32% of the occupied beds at GDC were filled with inmates age 50 and above. Value: 32.0 percent Date: 2004-01-01 Tags: medical,facilities Sources: Performance (audits.ga.gov) - [reported] California elderly parole grant rate 32% In California, 32% of hearings held for persons eligible for an elderly parole hearing resulted in a grant, unchanged from 32% the prior year. Value: 32.0 percent (vs. 32 prior year grant rate) Tags: parole,demographics Sources: Board of Parole Hearings - [reported] GDC Health program budget FY2024 expenditures GDC's budget for its Health program (state general funds plus other and federal funds) totaled $325,613,120 in FY2024 expenditures. Value: 325613120.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027 - [reported] California 606 elderly parole grants (53% of grants) In California, 606 parole grants (53% of that year's parole grants) were to persons eligible for an elderly parole hearing, up from 44% the prior year. Value: 606.0 grants (vs. 44 prior year share of grants) Tags: parole,demographics Sources: Board of Parole Hearings - [reported] GDC Health program budget FY2025 expenditures GDC's budget for its Health program totaled $389,939,841 in FY2025 expenditures. Value: 389939841.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027 - [reported] California 3,581 elderly parole hearings (45% of hearings) In California, 3,581 parole hearings (45% of that year's hearings) were for persons eligible for an elderly parole hearing, up from 42% the prior year. Value: 3581.0 hearings (vs. 42 prior year share of hearings) Tags: parole,demographics Sources: Board of Parole Hearings - [reported] GDC Health program budget FY2026 original GDC's budget for its Health program totaled $377,478,018 in the FY2026 original budget. Value: 377478018.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027 - [reported] GDC Health program budget FY2026 amended GDC's budget for its Health program totaled $417,255,739 in the amended FY2026 budget. Value: 417255739.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027 - [reported] GDC Health program budget FY2027 GDC's budget for its Health program totaled $432,247,728 in the FY2027 budget. Value: 432247728.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027 - [reported] County correctional institution per diem rate As discussed at a Georgia Board of Corrections meeting covering the 21 County Correctional Institutions/Prisons where Georgia leases beds from counties to house state offenders, the daily per diem rate was $22.00 per offender. Value: 22.0 dollars per day Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: budget,facilities Sources: Board of Corrections, board meeting minutes january 2023 POLICYS (11) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Medical reprieve request begins with GDC The Southern Center for Human Rights' Parole Handbook states that the request for a medical reprieve typically begins with the Georgia Department of Corrections, which must approve the medical reprieve before the request can go to the Parole Board. Tags: medical,parole,policy,operations Sources: pap.georgia.gov: parole handbook - [confirmed] Parole Board authority to grant medical reprieve The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles states it has the constitutional authority to grant a medical reprieve to any inmate it finds to be entirely incapacitated due to a progressively debilitating terminal illness, and that the Department of Corrections' medical staff recommends inmates for a medical reprieve. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: Reprieves and Commutations | State Board of Pardons and Paroles - [reported] Johnson State Prison geriatric/wheelchair unit capacities GDC's own page for Johnson State Prison describes it as having two Geriatric/Wheelchair Units, one housing 140 offenders and the other housing 142 offenders. Tags: facilities,medical,conditions Sources: Johnson State Prison | Georgia Department of Corrections - [confirmed] GDC medical reprieve eligibility criteria GDC SOP 507.04.66 (Medical Reprieves) states that offenders who may be considered for a medical reprieve include those assessed to no longer pose a threat to society with terminal illness, serious medical conditions that are resource intensive, serious medical conditions not reversible with current medical therapy, and/or dementia or severe cognitive deficits. Tags: medical,policy Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.66, Medical Reprieves (passage checked against GPS's copy) - [confirmed] Medical reprieve not a right; physician discretion GDC SOP 507.04.66 states that the procedure for medical reprieve does not create a right to be reprieved for anyone, and only the responsible physician may initiate a medical reprieve at his or her discretion. Tags: medical,policy Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.66, Medical Reprieves (passage checked against GPS's copy) - [confirmed] Definition of terminally ill offender GDC SOP 507.04.60 (Care of the Terminally Ill) defines a 'Terminally Ill Offender' as one experiencing an illness for which therapeutic intervention directed toward cure is no longer appropriate, with a medical prognosis of life expectancy of six months or less. Tags: medical,policy Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.60, Care of the Terminally Ill (passage checked against GPS's copy) - [confirmed] Evaluation of terminally ill for medical reprieve GDC SOP 507.04.60 requires that all terminally ill offenders be evaluated to determine whether they meet the criteria for a medical reprieve, with the Responsible Health Authority initiating requests for appropriate patients. Tags: medical,policy Sources: Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.60, Care of the Terminally Ill (passage checked against GPS's copy) - [confirmed] Parole Board discretionary reprieves A Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rule provides that the Board may at its discretion grant reprieves to inmates usually for a limited number of days for compassionate reasons or medical reasons, and that since the Department of Corrections has a policy of granting special leaves to inmates for compassionate and medical reasons with certain restrictions, the inmate should first seek leave with the Department of Corrections. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 RULES - [confirmed] Supervised reprieves for extensive periods A Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rule provides that the Board may grant supervised reprieves to inmates of more extensive periods of time for compassionate, medical and other reasons, and that applications for supervised reprieve may be in any written form supported by written evidence on which the reprieve is sought. Tags: legal,medical,policy Sources: GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 RULES - [confirmed] Time credit during reprieve A Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rule provides that time on reprieve will be credited toward service of sentence provided the inmate complies with the conditions of the reprieve unless stated otherwise in the Board's order, but if the reprieve is cancelled or rescinded due to noncompliance, no time served on reprieve will be credited as earned. Tags: legal,policy Sources: GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 RULES - [confirmed] Reprieve requests considered on written record A Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rule provides that all reprieve requests will be considered on the written record and no hearing will be held by the Board for such consideration. Tags: legal,policy Sources: GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 RULES TRENDS (4) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] GDC county jail intake processing time rose from 4 to 15 days Georgia GDC's average number of days to process offenders from county jails rose from 4 days in FY 2021 to 15 days in FY 2024, reaching the 15-day maximum before incurring jail subsidy costs. Tags: operations,facilities,budget,transfers Sources: HB 68 (FY2026) Criminal Justice and Public Safety budget, Georgia General Assembly - [reported] Texas MRIS screenings and approvals FY2019-FY2023 In Texas, under the Medically Recommended Intensive Supervision program, offender screenings and approvals fell from 2,803 screened with 76 approved in FY2019 to 3,084 screened with 27 approved in FY2023, with intermediate years of 2,858 screened/61 approved (FY2020), 2,508 screened/48 approved (FY2021), and 2,670 screened/58 approved (FY2022). Tags: parole,medical,policy Sources: The Texas Board of Pardons - [reported] Virginia geriatric parole grant rates 8%, 3%, 9%, 4% Virginia's geriatric parole grant rate across four calendar years was 8% (2018), 3% (2019), 9% (2020), and 4% (2021, partial). Tags: parole,policy Sources: Virginia State Crime Commission - [estimated] NCCHC projects one third of U.S. incarcerated people over 50 by 2030 The NCCHC position statement states that by 2030, it is anticipated that about one third of all U.S. incarcerated people will be over the age of 50, and that incarcerated people may present as 10 to 15 years older than their chronological age due to cumulative effects of stress and violence during incarceration as well as risk factors for poor health over the life course. Date: 2030-01-01 Tags: demographics,medical,conditions Sources: Position Statement (ncchc.org) METHODOLOGY NOTES (2) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] DOJ OIG defines aging inmates as age 50 and older The DOJ OIG defined inmates age 50 and older as 'aging' for its review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Tags: demographics,medical Sources: Office of the Inspector General - [reported] 2004 NIC report defined aging as 50 and older The 2004 NIC report defined inmates age 50 and older as aging, and reported that seven state correctional agencies considered inmates age 50 and older to be aging. Date: 2004-01-01 Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Office of the Inspector General DATASETS (7) ---------------------------------------- # Georgia corrections department health care spending (adjusted for inflation, 2015 dollars) Total and per-inmate health care spending for Georgia's corrections department, FY2010-FY2015, adjusted to 2015 dollars. Fiscal Year Total Spending Per-Inmate Spending -------------------------------------------------- 2010 226592309 3871 2011 220973440 3899 2012 211102773 3683 2013 206015183 3543 2014 204407926 3676 2015 199359072 3610 # GDC average days to process offenders from county jails, FY 2021-FY 2024 Average number of days GDC takes to process offenders from county jails, with a 15-day maximum before incurring jail subsidy costs. Fiscal Year Average Days --------------------------- FY 2021 4 FY 2022 7 FY 2023 10 FY 2024 15 # Texas MRIS Screenings and Approvals FY2019-FY2023 Annual counts of offenders screened, presented, and approved under Texas's Medically Recommended Intensive Supervision program. Fiscal Year Screened Presented Approved -------------------------------------------- 2019 2803 196 76 2020 2858 201 61 2021 2508 222 48 2022 2670 320 58 2023 3084 289 27 # GDC Health program budget FY2024-FY2027 GDC Health program budget (state general funds plus other and federal funds) across fiscal years. Fiscal Year Budget Type Amount ----------------------------------------- FY2024 Expenditures 325613120 FY2025 Expenditures 389939841 FY2026 Original Budget 377478018 FY2026 Amended Budget 417255739 FY2027 Budget 432247728 # County Correctional Institution expenditures, FY 2021-FY 2024 Total expenditures for housing offenders at contracted County Correctional Institutions. Fiscal Year Expenditures --------------------------- FY 2021 32734665 FY 2022 32725354 FY 2023 36441394 FY 2024 36721625 # Virginia Geriatric Conditional Release Decisions and Grants 2018-2021 Annual counts of Virginia Parole Board geriatric conditional release decisions and grants, with grant rates. Calendar Year Total Decisions Total Grants Grant Rate ---------------------------------------------------------- 2018 725 55 8 2019 759 24 3 2020 901 77 9 2021 566 21 4 # County Jail Subsidy expenditures, FY 2021-FY 2024 Total expenditures for County Jail Subsidy. Fiscal Year Expenditures --------------------------- FY 2021 0 FY 2022 810 FY 2023 0 FY 2024 0 KEY ENTITIES (46) ---------------------------------------- - 26 LC 48 1811S [legislation]: Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil committee substitute bill on county per-day-per-inmate reimbursement. - ACLU [organization]: Civil liberties organization that produced the 2022 'Captive Labor: Exploitation of Incarcerated Workers' report with the University of Chicago Law School's Global Human Rights Clinic. (aka: American Civil Liberties Union) - ACLU of Georgia [organization]: Has filed multiple legal challenges to Georgia's private probation system, prison conditions, and racial disparities. Published a 2014 report on Georgia's private probation industry. - Alabama Medical Furlough Act [legislation]: Alabama statute defining geriatric inmates and providing medical furlough. - Barrell and Associates [organization]: Consulting firm that conducted a 1998 study for GDC on medical bed assignment. - Bureau of Justice Statistics [organization]: Federal statistical agency within DOJ that collected and published mortality in correctional institutions data from approximately 2000 until 2019. (aka: BJS) - California Board of Parole Hearings [organization]: California state agency that conducts parole suitability hearings and sets parole conditions. - California Elderly Parole Program [program]: California program reviewing parole suitability for inmates 50 or older who have served at least 20 years. - Families Against Mandatory Minimums [organization]: Advocacy organization for sentencing and prison policies that are individualized and fair, represented by Senior Policy Analyst Matthew Charles (aka: FAMM) - Federal Bureau of Prisons [organization]: Federal agency responsible for operating federal prisons in the United States. (aka: BOP, Federal BOP) - GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 [legislation]: Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles rules on reprieves. - GDC SOP 507.04.60 [organization]: GDC standard operating procedure for care of terminally ill offenders. (aka: Care of the Terminally Ill) - GDC SOP 507.04.66 [organization]: GDC standard operating procedure for medical reprieves. (aka: Medical Reprieves) - Georgia Board of Corrections [organization]: Governing board that issues rules for Georgia prison operations, including Rule 125-4-2-.08 (Library) and Rule 125-2-4-.17 - Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Georgia's parole authority, operates reentry services including Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH) - Georgia Correctional Health Care [organization]: Branch of Augusta University responsible for providing healthcare at Augusta State Medical Prison under a $190 million annual GDC contract. (aka: GCHC) - Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts [organization]: State agency the committee recommended review all GDC contract renewals for the past five years. (aka: Georgia Department of Audits) - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency responsible for operating Georgia's prison system. Subject of federal DOJ investigation in 2022-2023 for constitutional violations including food-related deaths. (aka: GDC) - Georgia General Assembly [organization]: Georgia state legislature. Has not advanced legislation to address prison labor compensation or remove the state's slavery exception. A two-thirds vote in both chambers would be required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. - Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee [organization]: Georgia House committee that produced a committee substitute on county per-day reimbursement. (aka: House Judiciary, Non Civil committee) - Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Georgia state agency responsible for parole decisions - HB 68 (FY 2026G) [legislation]: Georgia FY2026 budget document containing GDC Health program appropriations and performance measures. (aka: FY2026 Governor's budget - Criminal Justice and Public Safety) - Johnson State Prison [facility]: GDC facility targeted in the Chandley Communications recruitment campaign. - Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections [organization]: Holds the fourth-largest LWOP population in the nation (3,900 people), with a notable decrease of 473 people from 2020 to 2024. (aka: Louisiana) - Maryland Unger ruling [case]: Maryland court decision that led to the release of lifers convicted under advisory jury instructions. (aka: Unger v. State) - Medically Recommended Intensive Supervision [program]: Texas program for people who pose minimal public safety risk, with eligibility limited to those over 65, terminally ill, severely mentally ill, developmentally disabled, or with organic brain disorders. (aka: MRIS) - Michigan Department of Corrections [organization]: Michigan state corrections agency that contracted with Aramark (2013-2015) and Trinity Services Group (2015-2018) for food service before returning to in-house operations in 2018. (aka: MDOC) - National Commission on Correctional Health Care [organization]: One of three national bodies offering voluntary accreditation to correctional facilities; develops correctional healthcare standards (aka: NCCHC) - National Institute of Corrections [organization]: Federal agency that provides classification resources and standards; states the primary goal of classification is managing inmate risk and ensuring safety. (aka: NIC) - New York Senate Bill S2423 [legislation]: Proposed New York legislation to provide elder parole eligibility at age 55 after 15 years served. (aka: Elder Parole bill) - New York State Board of Parole [organization]: New York parole authority referenced in S2423. (aka: Board of Parole) - New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision [organization]: Oversees New York's prison system, which more than halved its population while violent crime fell. - North Carolina Department of Adult Correction [organization]: North Carolina's corrections agency reporting 9,682 positions needed and 4,979 filled (49% vacancy rate) as of January 2026. - O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 [legislation]: Statute listing seven serious violent felonies with mandatory minimum sentences during which parole is unavailable. (aka: OCGA § 17-10-6.1) - O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7 [legislation]: Georgia statute barring release for certain recidivist violent offenders sentenced to life without parole. - O.C.G.A. § 42-5-51 [legislation]: Georgia statute governing transfer of sentenced inmates and county reimbursement. - O.C.G.A. § 42-9-39 [legislation]: Georgia statute requiring 30 years served before parole eligibility for certain murder sentences. - O.C.G.A. § 42-9-43 [legislation]: Georgia statute requiring the Board to consider all pertinent information and issue findings and determinations with notice to specified parties. (aka: § 42-9-43) - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety [organization]: Georgia Senate subcommittee that received Parole Board testimony on medical reprieves. (aka: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee) - Southern Center for Human Rights [organization]: Legal advocacy organization that investigated food conditions at Gordon County Jail and sent a formal letter to Sheriff Mitch Ralston in October 2014. (aka: SCHR) - Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Texas parole board that generally errs on the side of public safety when considering MRIS releases. - U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General [organization]: Federal oversight body that reviewed aging inmates in the BOP. (aka: DOJ OIG, Office of the Inspector General) - United States Sentencing Commission [organization]: Federal agency that produces data on sentencing and recidivism, including a 21.3% geriatric rearrest rate. (aka: USSC) - Vera Institute of Justice [organization]: Research organization focused on criminal justice; published Health Care Behind Bars report (2025) (aka: Vera Institute, Vera) - Virginia Parole Board [organization]: Virginia parole authority that makes geriatric conditional release decisions. - Virginia State Crime Commission [organization]: Virginia state agency that published a report on parole including geriatric parole data. (aka: VSCC) SOURCES (47) ---------------------------------------- - § 53.1-40.01. Conditional release of geriatric prisoners, Virginia Law [legislation, primary] URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title53.1/chapter2/section53.1-40.01/ - 2018 Releases from Custody, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://doccs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/01/final-2018-releases_three-year-post-release-follow-up.pdf - 26 LC 48 1811S, Georgia General Assembly [legislation, primary] URL: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/244588 - A report from Oct 2017, Pew Charitable Trusts / Vera Institute of Justice (2017-10-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.pew.org/-/media/assets/2017/10/sfh_prison_health_care_costs_and_quality_final.pdf - ACLU Urges State Parole Board to Use Its Constitutional Power to Release Those Age 62 and Older - ACLU of Georgia, ACLU of Georgia [press_release, secondary] URL: https://www.acluga.org/en/press-releases/aclu-urges-state-parole-board-use-its-constitutional-power-release-those-age-62-and - aclu.org: elderlyprisonreport 20120613 1, ACLU (2012-01-01) [official_report, secondary] URL: https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/elderlyprisonreport_20120613_1.pdf - Alabama Code § 14-14-2 (2025) - Definitions. :: 2025 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia, Justia (2025-01-01) [legislation, primary] URL: https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-14/chapter-14/section-14-14-2/ - Board of Corrections Meeting Minutes, September 4, 2025, Georgia Department of Corrections (2025-09-04) [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/board-meeting-minutes/board-meeting-minutes-september-2025/download - Board of Corrections, board meeting minutes january 2023, Georgia Department of Corrections (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/board-meeting-minutes/board-meeting-minutes-january-2023/download - Board of Pardons details medical-reprieve process and recent grant rates | Citizen Portal, Citizen Portal [journalism, secondary] URL: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/7414728/Georgia/2026-Legislature-Georgia/Board-of-Pardons-details-medical-reprieve-process-and-recent-grant-rates - Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (2025-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/bph/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2025/05/Report-of-Significant-Events-2024-rev.5.25.pdf - Codes Display Text, California Legislative Information [legislation, primary] URL: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&division=&title=1.&part=3.&chapter=8.&article=3. - DOAA Bed Demand & Agency Strategy Report (2018-12), Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts by Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (2018-12-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.audits.ga.gov/ReportSearch/download/21679 - Everywhere (famm.org), FAMM (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Exec-Summary-Report.pdf - FY25 (gdc.georgia.gov), Georgia Department of Corrections (2025-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/gdc-annual-fiscal-report/gdc-annual-fiscal-report-2025/download - GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 475-3 RULES, Georgia Secretary of State [legal_document, primary] URL: https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/475-3 - GDC Annual Fiscal Report 2014, Georgia Department of Corrections (2014-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/gdc-annual-fiscal-report/gdc-annual-fiscal-report-2014/download - gdc.georgia.gov media/21676/download, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/media/21676/download - Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.60, Care of the Terminally Ill (passage checked against GPS's copy), Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/106397 - Georgia Department of Corrections SOP 507.04.66, Medical Reprieves (passage checked against GPS's copy), Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/106403 - Governor's Budget Report, AFY 2026 and FY 2027, Georgia Office of Planning and Budget (2026-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://opb.georgia.gov/document/governors-budget-reports-current-year/afy-2026-fy-2027-governors-budget-report/download - HB 68 (FY2026) Criminal Justice and Public Safety budget, Georgia General Assembly, Georgia General Assembly (2026-01-01) [legislation, primary] URL: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/senate-budget-office-document-library/appropriations/2026/general/fy2026_house_criminal_justice_and_public_safety.pdf - It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [1], Vera Institute of Justice [official_report, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/vera/Its-about-time-aging-prisoners-increasing-costs-and-geriatric-release.pdf - It’s About Time, Its about time aging prisoners increasing costs and geriatric release [2], Vera Institute of Justice [official_report, secondary] URL: https://vera-institute.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/publications/Its-about-time-aging-prisoners-increasing-costs-and-geriatric-release.pdf?dm=1647370715 - Johnson State Prison | Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/locations/johnson-state-prison - Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:15:574.4 - Parole; eligibility; juvenile offenders :: 2025 Louisiana Laws :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia, Justia (2025-01-01) [legislation, primary] URL: https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-15/rs-15-574-4/ - More Than 130 Maryland Lifers Adjust To Freedom After Court Ruling : NPR, NPR (2016-01-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.npr.org/2016/02/17/467118226/more-than-130-maryland-lifers-adjust-to-freedom-after-court-ruling - November, 2018 (justicepolicy.org), Justice Policy Institute (2018-01-01) [official_report, secondary] URL: https://justicepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The_Ungers_5_Years_and_Counting.pdf - NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2423, New York State Senate (2023-01-01) [legislation, primary] URL: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S2423 - Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (2015-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/15-05.pdf - Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 17-10-6.1 (GPS's copy of the Code), Georgia Prisoners' Speak [legal_document, primary] URL: https://gps.press/ocga/17-10-6.1/ - Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 17-10-7 (GPS's copy of the Code), Georgia Prisoners' Speak [legal_document, primary] URL: https://gps.press/ocga/17-10-7/ - Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-5-51 (GPS's copy of the Code), Georgia Prisoners' Speak [legal_document, primary] URL: https://gps.press/ocga/42-5-51/ - Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-39 (GPS's copy of the Code), Georgia Prisoners' Speak [legal_document, primary] URL: https://gps.press/ocga/42-9-39/ - Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 42-9-43 (GPS's copy of the Code), Georgia Prisoners' Speak (2026-10-28) [legislation, primary] URL: https://gps.press/ocga/42-9-43/ - pap.georgia.gov: parole handbook, Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles by Southern Center for Human Rights [official_report, primary] URL: https://pap.georgia.gov/document/document/parole-handbook/download - Parole board outlines medical-reprieve criteria, reports 68% grant rate in recent six months | Citizen Portal, Citizen Portal [journalism, secondary] URL: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/7626079/Georgia/Legislative/Committees/SENATE/Appropriations/Parole-board-outlines-medical-reprieve-criteria-reports-68-grant-rate-in-recent-six-months - Paroling people who, Citizens Alliance on Prisons & Public Spending (2014-01-01) [official_report, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/cappsmi/CAPPS_Paroling_people_who_committed_serious_crimes_11_23_14.pdf - Performance (audits.ga.gov), Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.audits.ga.gov/ReportSearch/download/1741 - Position Statement (ncchc.org), National Commission on Correctional Health Care [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.ncchc.org/wp-content/uploads/Care-for-Aging-Patients-in-the-Correctional-Setting.pdf - Reprieves and Commutations | State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles [official_report, primary] URL: https://pap.georgia.gov/reprieves-and-commutations - sos.ga.gov: state constitution, Georgia Secretary of State (2022-01-01) [legal_document, primary] URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20260831145433id_/https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/state_constitution.pdf - static.prisonpolicy.org: 018735, National Institute of Corrections [official_report, primary] URL: https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/nic/018735.pdf - The Effects of Aging on Recidivism Among Federal Offenders, United States Sentencing Commission (2017-01-01) [academic, primary] URL: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20171207_Recidivism-Age.pdf - The Texas Board of Pardons, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/bpp/publications/FY_2023_Annual_Statistical_Report.pdf - Too Little, Too Late - Hannah Riley - Inquest, Inquest by Hannah Riley [journalism, secondary] URL: https://inquest.org/too-little-too-late/ - Virginia State Crime Commission, Virginia State Crime Commission (2022-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://vscc.virginia.gov/Annual%20Reports/2022%20VSCC%20Annual%20Report%20-%20Parole%20in%20Virginia.pdf