A 20-year old inmate committed suicide, apparently due to conditions in the prison.
Experts say older inmates are much less likely to attempt escape than members of the prison population as a whole.
Guards are given special training in working with older inmates.
They are more likely than older inmates to commit suicide.
The report attacks the practice of allowing young offenders to mix with older inmates.
Most of the older inmates at Graterford are from 50 to 60 years old.
Like many older inmates, who have either alienated or lost touch with their families, he has no visitors.
A group of older inmates live in bigger cells than the rest of the population.
Many of the country's 20,000 inmates older than 50 have no families to help them re-enter society.
Nevertheless, older inmates should be released if properly prepared for life on the outside.