Which group is identified as more likely to have serious health care needs upon release?

The group identified as more likely to have serious health care needs upon release is elderly individuals. As people age, they generally experience an increase in health-related issues such as chronic illnesses, mobility limitations, and geriatric syndromes. Older adults who are released from incarceration may have a significant accumulation of health care needs that require ongoing management, including access to medication, specialized medical care, and support services.

This demographic often faces barriers that complicate their health care upon reentry into the community, such as continuity of care disruptions and lack of social support. The unique physical and mental health challenges associated with aging can become more pronounced in a correctional environment, where access to necessary care may be limited during incarceration.

While young adults, women, and men can also have health needs, the prevalence and complexity of health issues are markedly higher among the elderly population, making them the group more likely to require serious health care attention upon their release from incarceration.