- The decline in incarcerated seniors in Hesse is evident.
The number of incarcerated individuals over 55 in Hesse has dipped under 400 for the first time since 2015. Among these, 39 are still involved in the criminal justice system and are over 70 years old. This information comes from Justice Minister Christian Heinz (CDU), who provided this update in response to a query from the AfD, taking into account demographic shifts and age-appropriate housing within prisons. From 2015 to 2023, the count of inmates over 55 typically ranged between 422 and 488 as of March 1st in each year.
The current detention conditions satisfy the unique needs and preferences of the elderly population at the "Kornhaus" of the Schwalmstadt Prison as well as the elderly wing in the Weiterstadt Prison, the Minister's response suggests. No concrete plans for building a new age-suitable facility or expanding existing prisons have been formulated.
Hesse's penal system comprises 16 prisons and one juvenile detention center, which housed an average of about 4,200 inmates last year. The total capacity of these facilities amounts to roughly 5,000 prison spots.
The elderly inmates residing in the age-specific units of the "Kornhaus" in Schwalmstadt Prison and the elderly wing in Weiterstadt Prison enjoy the improved conditions in the meadows around their facilities. Despite the adequate facilities, no proposals for constructing a new elderly-friendly prison or expanding existing ones within Hesse's penal system have surfaced.
