In State Correctional Institution Muncy in Pennsylvania, roughly 150 women lifers — many of them incarcerated during the height of mass incarceration in the 1980s and 1990s — are now aging behind bars. Nationally, the average age of incarcerated women has risen to 41 and visits to the infirmary have skyrocketed in the past five years, increasing 573%. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and degenerative back issues often begin as early as age 35. By their mid-50s, many incarcerated women are already facing conditions associated with advanced aging.
Prisons like SCI Muncy do not have the capacity to handle the complex needs of seniors. Poor diet, lack of exercise and inadequate healthcare have led to a public health crisis that receives scant attention.
Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison is a production of Create. Genius. Media and Temple University's Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting.
Follow us on social media for info about events, issues around mass incarceration and history @dyingontheinsidepodcast