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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingThe state says the number of inmates over age 55 could double in just four years. That means higher medical costs for the prison, but it will also mean more sex offenders behind bars.
The Department of Corrections says there's a small number of older inmates serving time for murder or aggravated murder. But the majority have committed sex offenses. In fact, the older the age group, the higher the probability they're here for a sex offense.
Kent Larson is 60. Garth Justet is 75. Dean Ellis has lived 80 years. All of these men are inmates in the state prison - in on sex offenses.
Kent Larson, Convicted Sex Offender: "The boundaries got crossed."
"You can't justify it."
The Department of Corrections says 24 percent of the total Utah inmate population are currently serving sentences for sex offenses. But that number drastically increases when you look at inmates over age 55.
Steve Caverley, Prison Health Program Administrator: "They have a very high rate of incarceration for sex offenses-- about 60 percent."
Corrections officials say part of the reason the number is so high is older inmates aren't committing as many other crimes.
Steve Caverley: "As they get older, they're probably less likely to be using drugs, less likely to be doing violent crime."
Plus, sex offenses are often crimes of opportunity, and many of these men have access to young children.
Dean Ellis, Convicted Sex Offender: "The older we get, the more foolish we get."
Whatever the reason, sex offenders tend to serve long sentences. Add that to the fact that prisons are increasingly seeing more older offenders these days, and they have an issue emerging.
Steve Caverley: "The biggest issue I think for us is going to be the increasing population of sex offenders."
With a limited number of beds in prison, the question becomes what will happen to some of the older inmates who have medical problems? The Department of Corrections says they rarely release someone early because of health problems.
Steve Caverley: "We're very sensitive to the concerns of the community."
But it does happen. In February, the Board of Pardons released Bert Jackson, a 99-year-old sex offender who abused two children. Corrections officials say his deteriorating health justified the early parole.
Steve Caverley is involved with the Utah Commission on Aging, which will eventually make recommendations to the governor on how to deal with the state's aging population.
He says one of his recommendations is going to be developing a long-term care facility on the prison grounds so these older inmates can be taken care of right here on site.
