The United States gives out longer sentences than any other place on the face of the earth. Europe looks at us like we dont know what were doing looks at us like were crazy. Open nine. In this special investigation, fault lines gains unprecedented and exclusive access to prisons across the United States and discovers a booming population of elderly inmates. We ask whats the true cost of americas lockemupandthrowawaythe key approach to justice . I heard him fall. Inmates call this the death house. The geriatric unit at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center in lexington, oklahoma, holds more than 250 elderly and disabled offenders. It was created 3 years ago in response to a massive explosion in oklahomas elderly prison population. Our Fastest Growing segment is the inmates that are the age of 50 and over. We have about 3,700 now thats grown almost 200 percent in the last decade and projections are were gonna continue to grow about 45 percent a year because of enhancements to punishments,
Age of 50 or over, we have about 3700 now, thats grown almost 200 in the last decade. And projections are were going to continue to grow at about 45 a year. Because of enhancements to punishments, tough on crime, 85 laws that require you to serve 85 before youre even eligible of parole and then the advent of life without parole. My name is pertorical hill. And my number is 48713. I received that january the 16th, 1948. Pertalco has the oldest nment number in the state inmate number in the state. 66 years have been spent behind bars. He escaped six times. Youre as good at escaping from prison as you are in . Whenever my health was good. I cant remember the name of the little town where that uhaul trailer was what are you serving now, sentence . This sentence is a murder charge. How long ago . 1947. Whats your sentence . Life. Which one are you . Im up there. I come and this is what life met for pertarco now. A small section of a dormitory whicwith a few black and white photographs of hi
Some are blind. Others are ridden with cancer. Many have serious mental illness. All of them are old. And a few will never get out alive. The United States gives out longer sentences than any other place on the face of the earth. Europe looks at us like we dont know what were doing looks at us like were crazy. Open nine. In this special investigation, fault lines gains unprecedented and exclusive access to prisons across the United States and discovers a booming population of elderly inmates. We ask whats the true cost of americas lockemupandthrowawaythe key approach to justice . I heard him fall. Inmates call this the death house. The geriatric unit at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center in lexington, oklahoma, holds more than 250 elderly and disabled offenders. It was created 3 years ago in response to a massive explosion in oklahomas elderly prison population. Our Fastest Growing segment is the inmates that are the age of 50 and over. We have about 3,700 now thats grown almost 200 p