>> some are blind. >> some are blind. others are ridden with cancer. others are ridden with cancer. many have serious mental many have serious mental illness. illness. all of them are old. all of them are old. and a few will never get out and a few will never get out alive. alive. >> the united states gives out >> the united states gives out longer sentences than any other longer sentences than any other place on the face of the earth. place on the face of the earth. europe looks at us like we don't europe looks at us like we don't know what we're doing - looks at know what we're doing - looks at us like we're crazy. us like we're crazy.

>> open nine. >> open nine. >> in this special >> in this special investigation, fault lines gains investigation, fault lines gains unprecedented and exclusive unprecedented and exclusive access to prisons across the access to prisons across the united states and discovers a united states and discovers a booming population of elderly booming population of elderly inmates. inmates. we ask: what's the we ask: what's the true cost of america's true cost of america's "lock'em-up-and-throw-away-the- "lock'em-up-and-throw-away-the- key" approach to justice? key" approach to justice? >> i heard him fall. >> i heard him fall.

>> inmates call this the death >> inmates call this the death house. house. the geriatric unit at the joseph the geriatric unit at the joseph harp correctional center in harp correctional center in lexington, oklahoma, holds more lexington, oklahoma, holds more than 250 elderly and disabled than 250 elderly and disabled offenders. offenders. it was created 3 years it was created 3 years ago in response to a ago in response to a massive explosion in oklahoma's massive explosion in oklahoma's elderly prison population. elderly prison population. >> our fastest growing segment >> our fastest growing segment is the inmates that are the age is the inmates that are the age of 50 and over. of 50 and over.

we have about 3,700 now - that's we have about 3,700 now - that's grown almost 200 percent in the grown almost 200 percent in the last decade - and projections last decade - and projections are we're gonna continue to grow are we're gonna continue to grow about 45 percent a year - about 45 percent a year - because of enhancements to because of enhancements to punishments, 'tough on crime', punishments, 'tough on crime', 85% laws that require you to 85% laws that require you to serve 85% before you're even serve 85% before you're even eligible for parole, and then eligible for parole, and then the advent of life without the advent of life without parole. parole. >> my name is plutarcho hill and >> my name is plutarcho hill and my number is 48713. my number is 48713. i received that january the i received that january the 16th, 1948. 16th, 1948. >> plutarcho has the oldest >> plutarcho has the oldest inmate number in the state, he inmate number in the state, he is 86 years old - 66 of those is 86 years old - 66 of those years have been spent behind years have been spent behind bars. bars. he's escaped from prison 10 he's escaped from prison 10 times. times. >> so you're as >> so you're as good getting out of prison as

good getting out of prison as you are getting in? you are getting in? >> well, when my health was >> well, when my health was good. good. >>what are you serving for now? >>what are you serving for now? this sentence? this sentence? >> it was a murder charge. >> it was a murder charge. >> how long ago? >> how long ago? >> 1947. >> 1947. >> what's your sentence? >> what's your sentence? >> life. >> life. >> and this is what life means >> and this is what life means for plutarcho now. for plutarcho now. a small section of a dormitory, a small section of a dormitory, with a few black and white with a few black and white photographs of his family. photographs of his family. he's outlived all of them. he's outlived all of them. >> elderly people in prison. >> elderly people in prison. should they be given extra should they be given extra consideration for release? consideration for release? >> well, yeah. >> well, yeah. yeah, i do. yeah, i do. >> can you explain why? >> can you explain why? >> because they're harmless. >> because they're harmless. >> plutarcho's not alone. >> plutarcho's not alone.

in fact he's part of a growing in fact he's part of a growing american trend. american trend. in the last decade the number of in the last decade the number of prisoners aged 55 and over has prisoners aged 55 and over has grown by an astonishing 75 grown by an astonishing 75 percent, partly because longer percent, partly because longer sentences began to be handed out sentences began to be handed out in the 1970's and 80's as the in the 1970's and 80's as the u.s. took a "tough on crime" u.s. took a "tough on crime" approach. approach. and the older a and the older a prisoner is, the bigger prisoner is, the bigger financial drain they pose. financial drain they pose. an elderly inmate costs around an elderly inmate costs around 70 thousand dollars a year to 70 thousand dollars a year to lock up - 2 to 3 times more than lock up - 2 to 3 times more than younger offenders. younger offenders. older prisoners suffer higher older prisoners suffer higher rates of health problems - rates of health problems - functional disabilities, functional disabilities, impaired movement, major impaired movement, major diseases, and mental illness. diseases, and mental illness.

mabel basset correctional mabel basset correctional center is oklahoma's largest center is oklahoma's largest women's prison. women's prison. this state incarcerates this state incarcerates more women per capita than any more women per capita than any other in the us - twice the other in the us - twice the national average. national average. they too are growing old behind they too are growing old behind bars. bars. estella and mary may look like estella and mary may look like two grandmothers passing their two grandmothers passing their time reading and writing poetry. time reading and writing poetry. and they are. and they are. but they're also convicted but they're also convicted killers. killers. >> i didn't have a chance in >> i didn't have a chance in what i did. what i did. it was either kill or be killed. it was either kill or be killed. and i chose to live, and it was and i chose to live, and it was a survival thing. a survival thing. >> estella turns 60 in november. >> estella turns 60 in november. she's been behind bars for 13 she's been behind bars for 13 years and hopes to be released years and hopes to be released

in 2014. in 2014. >> can you tell us what kind of >> can you tell us what kind of impact your incarceration has impact your incarceration has had on your family? had on your family? >> well it's been especially >> well it's been especially hard on my grandchildren, hard on my grandchildren, because they always wonder why i because they always wonder why i can't go home with them when can't go home with them when they come to visit me. they come to visit me. and they get upset. and they get upset. like why did you do it, they ask like why did you do it, they ask me why did you do this, you me why did you do this, you know, and explaining to little know, and explaining to little kids like that that you took kids like that that you took somebody's life is really hard. somebody's life is really hard. >> the rising number of elderly >> the rising number of elderly prisoners - and the price tag prisoners - and the price tag for that trend - comes as state for that trend - comes as state budgets are being squeezed budgets are being squeezed across the country. across the country. oklahoma has been hit oklahoma has been hit particularly hard. particularly hard. >> the second round of budget >> the second round of budget reductions took a lot of our reductions took a lot of our treatment. treatment. we have no substance abuse we have no substance abuse treatment, contractually or treatment, contractually or otherwise at the medium security otherwise at the medium security level down. level down. i know you've been to some of i know you've been to some of our medium security facilities. our medium security facilities. so we have to go back to our so we have to go back to our 10,000 plus volunteers, people 10,000 plus volunteers, people

that are retired professionals, that are retired professionals, people that work with people that work with faith-based groups or prison faith-based groups or prison ministries, and ask them to do ministries, and ask them to do more, to fill in the gaps. more, to fill in the gaps. >> on a recent sunday evening, >> on a recent sunday evening, the west moore community church the west moore community church band is doing just that, playing band is doing just that, playing a concert for the inmates at a concert for the inmates at joseph harp correctional joseph harp correctional facility. facility. numerous prisons we visited in numerous prisons we visited in oklahoma were on lockdown oklahoma were on lockdown because they did not have enough because they did not have enough officers on duty to provide officers on duty to provide security. security. staffing in oklahoma prison staffing in oklahoma prison systems is at 70% officials told systems is at 70% officials told us they were operating in us they were operating in warehouse mode, storing people warehouse mode, storing people with little to no rehabilitation with little to no rehabilitation efforts. efforts. most of the prisoners, most of the prisoners, young and old, that we talked to young and old, that we talked to spoke about how hard it was to spoke about how hard it was to be granted parole. be granted parole. unlike every other state in the unlike every other state in the us, all parolees in oklahoma us, all parolees in oklahoma must be signed off directly by

must be signed off directly by the governor. the governor. it's part of the political it's part of the political landscape where landscape where politicians don't want to be politicians don't want to be seen as soft on crime. seen as soft on crime. >> you'll never find somebody >> you'll never find somebody running for elected office in running for elected office in the house or the senate that's the house or the senate that's going to have a platform of going to have a platform of successful reintegration, or is successful reintegration, or is going to be less tough on crime going to be less tough on crime than whoever they're running than whoever they're running against. against. that's just the nature of that's just the nature of politics i believe. politics i believe. >> what do you think of prison. >> what do you think of prison. >> it ain't no good. >> it ain't no good. no, it ain't no good for people no, it ain't no good for people today. today. >> at 100 years old, >> at 100 years old, with one leg missing and with one leg missing and suffering from dementia, sherman suffering from dementia, sherman parker is one of the oldest parker is one of the oldest prisoners in the united states. prisoners in the united states. he's locked up at dick conner he's locked up at dick conner correctional facility- an hour correctional facility- an hour north of tulsa, oklahoma. north of tulsa, oklahoma. here the prison has found a low here the prison has found a low cost solution for inmate health

cost solution for inmate health care--they train other prisoners care--they train other prisoners as orderlies to work in the as orderlies to work in the infirmary. infirmary. seth anderson often works long seth anderson often works long hours taking care of the inmates hours taking care of the inmates here and for his efforts is paid here and for his efforts is paid $5 a month. $5 a month. he was convicted of kidnapping, he was convicted of kidnapping, drug possession and possession drug possession and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. of a sawed-off shotgun. >> dick conners' infirmary is >> dick conners' infirmary is where everybody comes to die. where everybody comes to die. we have guys with cancer, we have guys with cancer, leukemia, bone cancer. leukemia, bone cancer. one guy's got leukemia, bone one guy's got leukemia, bone cancer and lung cancer, all in cancer and lung cancer, all in the same. the same. that's what he's here for. that's what he's here for. he's here to die. he's here to die. >> one inmate seth takes care of >> one inmate seth takes care of is blind -- a wool cap pulled is blind -- a wool cap pulled down over his face to prevent down over his face to prevent light from irritating his eyes. light from irritating his eyes. he is one of several inmates he is one of several inmates here seth says has been granted here seth says has been granted medical parole, but remain medical parole, but remain behind bars simply because they behind bars simply because they don't have anyone to pick them don't have anyone to pick them up. up. >> as for the fear that some of >> as for the fear that some of these men might reoffend - the these men might reoffend - the statistics show that it happens,

statistics show that it happens, but it's rare - just 3 out of but it's rare - just 3 out of every 100 prisoners over 55 every 100 prisoners over 55 return to prison, compared to return to prison, compared to almost half of all 18-29 year almost half of all 18-29 year olds. olds. >> they can't harm nobody else. >> they can't harm nobody else. they can't harm themselves, you they can't harm themselves, you know what i mean. know what i mean. there's no sense in them being there's no sense in them being here. here. >> seth thinks sherman parker >> seth thinks sherman parker should be released too. should be released too. sherman is serving two life sherman is serving two life sentences for shooting and sentences for shooting and killing two women, when he was killing two women, when he was 82. 82. he has no he has no chance of leaving prison alive. chance of leaving prison alive. >> but what about, let's say >> but what about, let's say the victim's family like one of the victim's family like one of the ladies that mr. parker shot? the ladies that mr. parker shot? their kids don't want him out, their kids don't want him out, they think he should serve the they think he should serve the rest of his life. rest of his life. i mean, do you understand that i mean, do you understand that point of view, too, or do you point of view, too, or do you think he should be let out? think he should be let out? >> sure, i do. >> sure, i do. but he's a hundred and almost but he's a hundred and almost 101 years old. 101 years old. you know what i mean? you know what i mean? i think he has served his life. i think he has served his life. you know, i mean, he's a you know, i mean, he's a century old. century old. you know, he's served his life. you know, he's served his life. let him go. let him go. yeah, let him go. yeah, let him go. >> do you think you need to be >> do you think you need to be in here?

in here? >> no, i don't need to be here. >> no, i don't need to be here. i need to be at home on the i need to be at home on the farm. farm. that's where i was born and that's where i was born and raised. raised. that's all i know. that's all i know. >> and now, a techknow minute... >> and now, a techknow minute... >> something is killing >> something is killing america's bee population. america's bee population. >> what happened to this bee? >> what happened to this bee? >> scientists aren't sure what >> scientists aren't sure what but beekeepers are reporting but beekeepers are reporting dramatic declines of 65% dramatic declines of 65% this year. this year. >> the losses are astronomical >> the losses are astronomical >> that could have a devistating >> that could have a devistating impact on agriculture. impact on agriculture. but a collection of resarchers but a collection of resarchers are working hard to build a are working hard to build a better bee. better bee. >> i'm just gonna roll my >> i'm just gonna roll my fingers forward... fingers forward... >> using artificial insemination >> using artificial insemination to make strains of bee to make strains of bee populations from across the populations from across the globe, >> i'm trying to enhance what globe, >> i'm trying to enhance what mother nature does mother nature does >> the hope is to find a strain >> the hope is to find a strain that's resistant to whatever is that's resistant to whatever is killing america's bees. >> nobody in the world was able killing america's bees.

>> nobody in the world was able to freeze honey bee semen. to freeze honey bee semen. >> for mor imformation on >> for mor imformation on this and other techknow stories, this and other techknow stories, visit our website at visit our website at aljazeera.com/techknow aljazeera.com/techknow don't miss techknow don't miss techknow sundays 7:30et / 4:30pt sundays 7:30et / 4:30pt on al jazeera america on al jazeera america >> from our headquarters in >> from our headquarters in new york, here new york, here are the headlines this hour. are the headlines this hour. >> al jazeera america is the >> al jazeera america is the only news channel that brings only news channel that brings you live news at the top of you live news at the top of every hour. every hour. >> a deal in the senate may be >> a deal in the senate may be at hand and just in the nick of at hand and just in the nick of time. time. >> thousands of new yorkers are >> thousands of new yorkers are marching in solidarity. marching in solidarity. >> we're following multiple >> we're following multiple developments on syria at this developments on syria at this hour. hour. >> every hour from reporters >> every hour from reporters stationed around the world and stationed around the world and across the country. across the country. >> only on al jazeera america. >> only on al jazeera america. determining using some sort of determining using some sort of subjective interpretation of subjective interpretation of their policy as to whether or their policy as to whether or not your particular report was not your particular report was actually abusive, because if it actually abusive, because if it doesn't contain language that doesn't contain language that

specifically threatens you specifically threatens you directly or is targeted towards directly or is targeted towards you specifically, they may not you specifically, they may not consider it abuse. consider it abuse. they may consider it offensive. they may consider it offensive. and in that case they just and in that case they just recommend that you block that recommend that you block that person. person. >> i don't want to minimise >> i don't want to minimise this, because i mean, there's this, because i mean, there's some really horrible things that some really horrible things that are on are on line, and it's not - it's line, and it's not - it's not just twitter, what has not just twitter, what has happened through social media happened through social media and the anonymity of the net is and the anonymity of the net is that you see websites, that you see websites, hate-filled websites hate-filled websites targetting targetting all sorts of groups, popping up. all sorts of groups, popping up. there has been a huge number of there has been a huge number of those that exist as well. those that exist as well. >> evey weeknight on >> evey weeknight on al jazeera america al jazeera america change the way you look at news change the way you look at news tune into live news at 8 and 11 tune into live news at 8 and 11 >> i'm john seigenthaler >> i'm john seigenthaler and here's a look at the headlines.. and here's a look at the headlines.. >> infomation changes by the >> infomation changes by the hour here... hour here... >> our team of award winning >> our team of award winning journalists brings you up to journalists brings you up to the minute coverage of today's

the minute coverage of today's events... events... then, at 9 and midnight. then, at 9 and midnight. america tonight goes deeper america tonight goes deeper with groundbreaking with groundbreaking investigative coverage of the investigative coverage of the nation's top stories... nation's top stories... >> a fresh take on the stories >> a fresh take on the stories that connect to you... that connect to you... >> live news at 8 and 11 eastern >> live news at 8 and 11 eastern followed by america tonight on al jazeera america followed by america tonight on al jazeera america there's more to it. there's more to it. consider this: the news of the consider this: the news of the day plus so much more. day plus so much more. >> we begin with the government >> we begin with the government shutdown. shutdown. >> answers to the questions no >> answers to the questions no one else will ask. one else will ask. >> it seems like they can't >> it seems like they can't agree to anything in washington agree to anything in washington no matter what. no matter what.

>> antonio mora, award winning >> antonio mora, award winning and hard hitting. and hard hitting. >> we've heard you talk about >> we've heard you talk about the history of suicide in your the history of suicide in your family. family. >> there's no status quo, just >> there's no status quo, just the bottom line. the bottom line. >> but, what about buying shares >> but, what about buying shares in a professional athlete? in a professional athlete? >> fishkill correctional >> fishkill correctional facility - 70 miles north of new facility - 70 miles north of new york city. york city. to address the needs of its to address the needs of its growing elderly prison growing elderly prison population, new york built the population, new york built the nation's first unit for the nation's first unit for the cognitively impaired. cognitively impaired. all these inmates have dementia. all these inmates have dementia. their average age is 63 and many their average age is 63 and many have alzheimers. have alzheimers. we've joined the founder and we've joined the founder and director of the unit, dr. edward director of the unit, dr. edward sottile, as he does his rounds. sottile, as he does his rounds. fault lines is the first fault lines is the first television crew to be allowed television crew to be allowed here. here. [knock, knock, knock] [knock, knock, knock]

>> mr. turner...how are you? >> mr. turner...how are you? how are you feeling today? how are you feeling today? today dr. sottile checks on 59 today dr. sottile checks on 59 year old chris turner. year old chris turner. serving a sentence for serving a sentence for kidnapping and sodomy, he's also kidnapping and sodomy, he's also being punished for punching a being punished for punching a nurse in the stomach. nurse in the stomach. how are you doing with your arm how are you doing with your arm motions? motions? >> they seem to be a lot better >> they seem to be a lot better now that you mention it... now that you mention it... >> he came to us a couple of >> he came to us a couple of years ago with huntington's years ago with huntington's chorea. chorea. that is a genetic disease that that is a genetic disease that is gradually progressive and the is gradually progressive and the patient has these movements that patient has these movements that are purposeless-he can't control are purposeless-he can't control his movement. his movement. and eventually, what happens is and eventually, what happens is it affects his ability to it affects his ability to swallow. swallow. and eventually, they and eventually, they deteriorate, they lose weight deteriorate, they lose weight and they die. and they die. >> this unit houses 30 beds - >> this unit houses 30 beds - and it's almost always full. and it's almost always full. >> mr. johnson... >> mr. johnson... >> yes sir... >> yes sir... >> how are you? >> how are you? >> fine,thank you sir. >> fine,thank you sir. >> how are you doing today? >> how are you doing today?

in the outside world, inmate in the outside world, inmate robert johnson was a heavy robert johnson was a heavy gambler... gambler... >> donald trump flew me all over >> donald trump flew me all over the world - hong kong and all the world - hong kong and all over... over... >> you have to be kidding >> you have to be kidding >> oh yeah...i'm not kidding >> oh yeah...i'm not kidding you...i his private jet. you...i his private jet. - ...until his wife - ...until his wife cancelled his credit line at the cancelled his credit line at the casinos. casinos. >> cause i promised her before i >> cause i promised her before i left the house, i would not use left the house, i would not use my credit line. my credit line. i keep my word... i keep my word... but she didn't tell me but she didn't tell me i couldn't say i had a credit i couldn't say i had a credit line. line. >> ok >> ok >> now he claims he doesn't >> now he claims he doesn't remember shooting at her with a remember shooting at her with a rifle. rifle. which raises the question, if which raises the question, if prisoners with dementia can't prisoners with dementia can't remember the crimes they remember the crimes they committed, how can they be committed, how can they be rehabilitated? rehabilitated? >> i had the same question. >> i had the same question. i can't control that. i can't control that. but not being able to control but not being able to control that, the best that we can do, that, the best that we can do, as physicians and healthcare as physicians and healthcare providers is to manage them in a providers is to manage them in a way that is humane, that's way that is humane, that's compassionate, and the only way compassionate, and the only way we can do that is by we can do that is by understanding their disease. understanding their disease. >> as the prison population in >> as the prison population in

america continues to age, other america continues to age, other states will undoubtedly need states will undoubtedly need units like this one to look units like this one to look after inmates with deteriorating after inmates with deteriorating mental capacity, but at 100 mental capacity, but at 100 thousand dollars a year per thousand dollars a year per inmate, where is the money going inmate, where is the money going to come from? to come from? at present, no one seems to have at present, no one seems to have the answer. the answer. three years ago larry white was three years ago larry white was released from prison. released from prison. he'd served a 32 year sentence he'd served a 32 year sentence for armed robbery and felony for armed robbery and felony homicide. homicide. he's 72 now. he's 72 now. after so long inside, he has after so long inside, he has struggled to adapt to life on struggled to adapt to life on the outside. the outside. >> i would get on the subway and >> i would get on the subway and i was so self-conscious that i i was so self-conscious that i would break out into a cold would break out into a cold sweat. sweat. because it seemed to me that because it seemed to me that everybody knew that this guy had everybody knew that this guy had just come out of prison, that just come out of prison, that everyone was staring at me. everyone was staring at me. and i would say and i would say "what the (bleep) "what the (bleep) are you looking at? are you looking at? what the (bleep) is the matter?" what the (bleep) is the matter?"

(laughs)...you can't do that... (laughs)...you can't do that... >> while locked-up larry built >> while locked-up larry built social networks and programs for social networks and programs for prisoners - trying to change the prisoners - trying to change the system from within. system from within. >> so i organized other >> so i organized other prisoners first of all to change prisoners first of all to change the conditions the conditions and to oppose how the and to oppose how the guards and administration was guards and administration was treating us. treating us. that became a movement and it that became a movement and it spread from one prison to spread from one prison to another. another. >> now, larry is trying to >> now, larry is trying to continue that same work from the continue that same work from the other side of the fence - other side of the fence - advocating for compassionate advocating for compassionate release for older inmates. release for older inmates. >> i'm a firm believe that >> i'm a firm believe that anybody can change. anybody can change. now it may take some people now it may take some people longer than others to change. longer than others to change. some people will die before they some people will die before they do change. do change. it's just that they didn't live it's just that they didn't live

long enough to change. long enough to change. but my whole life now is geared but my whole life now is geared to going back to help those i to going back to help those i left behind. left behind. that's my life. that's my life. i would feel that loss if i i would feel that loss if i couldn't go back at all... couldn't go back at all... >> it's to the point that even >> it's to the point that even though you're out, it's still in though you're out, it's still in you. you. >> yeah, i miss it. >> yeah, i miss it. i do. i do. i don't tell people that, but i i don't tell people that, but i do. do. >> and now, a techknow minute... >> and now, a techknow minute... >> something is killing >> something is killing america's bee population. america's bee population. >> what happened to this bee? >> what happened to this bee? >> scientists aren't sure what >> scientists aren't sure what but beekeepers are reporting but beekeepers are reporting dramatic declines of 65% dramatic declines of 65% this year. this year. >> the losses are astronomical >> the losses are astronomical >> that could have a devistating >> that could have a devistating impact on agriculture. impact on agriculture. but a collection of resarchers but a collection of resarchers are working hard to build a are working hard to build a better bee. better bee. >> i'm just gonna roll my >> i'm just gonna roll my fingers forward... fingers forward... >> using artificial insemination >> using artificial insemination

to make strains of bee to make strains of bee populations from across the populations from across the globe, >> i'm trying to enhance what globe, >> i'm trying to enhance what mother nature does mother nature does >> the hope is to find a strain >> the hope is to find a strain that's resistant to whatever is that's resistant to whatever is killing america's bees. >> nobody in the world was able killing america's bees. >> nobody in the world was able to freeze honey bee semen. to freeze honey bee semen. >> for mor imformation on >> for mor imformation on this and other techknow stories, this and other techknow stories, visit our website at visit our website at aljazeera.com/techknow aljazeera.com/techknow don't miss techknow don't miss techknow sundays 7:30et / 4:30pt sundays 7:30et / 4:30pt on al jazeera america on al jazeera america (vo) al jazeera america (vo) al jazeera america we understand that every news we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. rescuing stranded residents. (vo) we pursue that story beyond (vo) we pursue that story beyond the headline, past the the headline, past the spokesperson, to the streets. spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capitol. deployed across the capitol. (vo) we put all of our global (vo) we put all of our global resources behind every story. resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter >> it is a scene of utter devastation. devastation. (vo) and follow it no matter (vo) and follow it no matter where it leads, all the way to where it leads, all the way to you. you. al jazeera america. al jazeera america. take a new look at news. take a new look at news.

>> this isn't a new channel, >> this isn't a new channel, this is a watershed moment this is a watershed mo

>> unlike larry, many prisoners

>> unlike larry, many prisoners won't make it out alive. won't make it out alive. thousands of inmates will die thousands of inmates will die behind bars in the united states behind bars in the united states this year. this year. lewis young is afraid that he lewis young is afraid that he may be one of them. may be one of them. diagnosed with kidney cancer, diagnosed with kidney cancer, lewis awaits his sentence in the lewis awaits his sentence in the hospital wing of philadelphia's hospital wing of philadelphia's detention center. detention center. >> to have cancer, to be in >> to have cancer, to be in jail, and not to be around your jail, and not to be around your family. family. you know, it's real scary. you know, it's real scary. >> in lieu of family, lewis has >> in lieu of family, lewis has phyllis taylor. phyllis taylor. she's a correctional chaplain she's a correctional chaplain and has developed the hospice and has developed the hospice program here to help comfort program here to help comfort dying prisoners. dying prisoners. >> my hope is that if it's not >> my hope is that if it's not possible to release the elders possible to release the elders and to release the dying into and to release the dying into society, that the prisons and society, that the prisons and jails become home-like. jails become home-like. [praying] [praying]

>> she popped out of the clear >> she popped out of the clear blue. blue. she's like an angel to me right. she's like an angel to me right. and i started getting my proper and i started getting my proper medication, you know, they medication, you know, they started giving me morphine... started giving me morphine... >> phyllis works with dozens of >> phyllis works with dozens of other dying patients across the other dying patients across the state of pennsylvania. state of pennsylvania. she believes everyone should be she believes everyone should be allowed to die with dignity. allowed to die with dignity. >> a lot of people would say, >> a lot of people would say, look they broke the law. look they broke the law. they deserve to be there and if they deserve to be there and if they die there, then that's the they die there, then that's the choices they made. choices they made. >> and i would say back 'each >> and i would say back 'each person has value. person has value. and there was something and there was something redemptive in each person. redemptive in each person. that nobody's a throw-away that nobody's a throw-away person. person. this is my community. this is my community. i'm always going to be behind i'm always going to be behind bars. bars. i'm always going to be there. i'm always going to be there. how can i help at least one how can i help at least one other person so my life has other person so my life has meaning? meaning? >> well they call us og's >> well they call us og's og's...original gangsters...

og's...original gangsters... [laughs] [laughs] >> at 59 kevin bartley is a >> at 59 kevin bartley is a member of the lifer's group at member of the lifer's group at otisville correctional facility otisville correctional facility in new york. in new york. he is serving 15 years to life he is serving 15 years to life for his role in a murder during for his role in a murder during a convenience store robbery. a convenience store robbery. >> we had a republican governor, >> we had a republican governor, that ran on crime and punishment that ran on crime and punishment and when he came in he said he and when he came in he said he didn't want no one with a didn't want no one with a violent crime to be released and violent crime to be released and that was the message he sent that was the message he sent throughout the parole department throughout the parole department and they took that very and they took that very seriously. seriously. >> kevin has earned privileges >> kevin has earned privileges at the prison, he works freely at the prison, he works freely in the storehouse bringing in in the storehouse bringing in goods from the outside world. goods from the outside world. he's been told that he is a he's been told that he is a perfect candidate for release perfect candidate for release but he's been denied parole but he's been denied parole every time he has gone before every time he has gone before the board, instead he keeps the board, instead he keeps getting "deuced". getting "deuced". >> two years or deuce >> two years or deuce is the max they can hold you. is the max they can hold you. i've been deuced 8 times. i've been deuced 8 times. so i'm part of the 16 year over so i'm part of the 16 year over

the minimum club. the minimum club. >> when's your next one? >> when's your next one? >> my next one is in november >> my next one is in november 2011. 2011. >> is that going to be your year? >> is that going to be your year? >> that's going to be my >> that's going to be my year. year. that's going to be my year. that's going to be my year. 31 years in the penitentiary and 31 years in the penitentiary and i will leave. i will leave. >> kevin has used his time >> kevin has used his time inside to better himself. inside to better himself. he's received a master's degree he's received a master's degree in theology, learned sign in theology, learned sign language while working with deaf language while working with deaf inmates. inmates. >> keeping people incarcerated >> keeping people incarcerated who are community ready. who are community ready. ready to go out here and be an ready to go out here and be an asset to the community. asset to the community. to me it's crazy. to me it's crazy. why don't you release us now why don't you release us now while we're still healthy and while we're still healthy and able to contribute? able to contribute? don't wait until we lose a leg don't wait until we lose a leg or an arm or our minds... or an arm or our minds... >> so while a crisis that few >> so while a crisis that few seem willing to face expands to seem willing to face expands to alarming proportions, kevin and alarming proportions, kevin and

thousands of other older inmates thousands of other older inmates like him will continue to grow like him will continue to grow old behind bars. old behind bars. >> you have more people locked >> you have more people locked up per capita than anywhere else up per capita than anywhere else in the civilized world, how can in the civilized world, how can you do that? you do that? and you're always crying about and you're always crying about how much money it costs. how much money it costs. it's not solving your problems. it's not solving your problems. >> we have to treat these people >> we have to treat these people as human beings. as human beings. they are human beings. they are human beings. and they deserve compassion, and they deserve compassion, dignity and respect. dignity and respect. and if you treat these people and if you treat these people with that, then i think you're with that, then i think you're doing the right thing. doing the right thing. and i think that's the reason and i think that's the reason why we're here. why we're here. >> you know you're in a place >> you know you're in a place where loneliness will kill you. where loneliness will kill you. loneliness...even though i'm in loneliness...even though i'm in an institution with 500 other an institution with 500 other guys, i'm still lonely. guys, i'm still lonely. you're still lonely. you're still lonely. lonely inside. lonely inside.

check check . this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm jonathan betz with a look at the top stories. >> greatest day ever. why wouldn't i want to be here? >> yes, indeed the holiday season is underway from parades and shopping to volunteering and giving - deals to be had and where help is most needed. plus... meanwhile egypt is in turmoil. young women behind bars. >> mistrust and anxiety the tension between china and japan and the islands and the role the u.s. had in creating it. >> a cosmic