Institutional Thoughtlessness in Prisons and Its Impacts on the Day-to-Day Prison Lives of Elderly Men

Abstract

The number of elderly men in the prisons of England and Wales has grown significantly during the past decade and continues to rise. Based on intensive fieldwork in four English prisons, this article explores the prison experiences of menaged 65+ years. Some of these menhave grownold in prison, some have served previous prison sentences, and others (the majority) have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in later life. The latter had no prior experience of imprisonment. This article is concerned primarily with what is termed institutional thoughtlessness—the ways in which prison regimes (routines, rules, time-tables, etcetera) simply roll on with little reference to the needs and sensibilities of the old. This article argues that some degree of institutional thoughtlessness is evident in most of the prisons of England and Wales. Drawing on interviews and sustained observations, the article discusses some of the impacts of this thoughtlessness on imprisoned, elderly men.

The effectiveness of the Older prisoner Health and Social Care Assessment and Plan (OHSCAP): a randomised controlled trial

“…Previous research has shown that, if health needs are not picked up at reception or very quickly afterwards, they tend to remain unaddressed throughout someone's whole sentence. 61 Our study showed that the OHSCAP was often delayed and thus decisions around a person's care and safety (including appropriate location, access to prison facilities, suitable work/vocational activities and care needs around assistance needed for dressing, washing or mobilisation) could be being taken without the comprehensive information required to inform such decision-making, leaving the person potentially at risk or unable to maintain their care needs. We would argue that this is fundamental to the decency agenda and that an overall review of the processes and systems that operate during an early custody induction period needs to ensure that the most important processes are implemented early and inform the remaining processes.…”

“…Participants reported that prison officers often lacked insight into older prisoner issues. This has previously been described as 'institutionalised thoughtlessness' by Crawley, 61 and defined as 'the ways in which prison regimes (routines, rules, time-tables, etcetera) simply roll on with little reference to the needs and sensibilities of the old'. The findings from this research suggest that such thoughtlessness is still apparent in prisons in England and Wales.…”

“…Sustained observations of prisoners' daily life were also conducted. Crawley 61 found that prison officers had to find a balance between consistency and flexibility when supporting older prisoners. She highlighted that 'treating everyone the same does not always equate to equality'.…”

“…She highlighted that 'treating everyone the same does not always equate to equality'. Crawley 61 used the term 'institutionalised thoughtlessness' to describe the ways in which 'prison regimes simply roll on, with little reference to the needs and sensibilities of the old'. Examples included not being provided with sufficient time to move from one location to another or to complete specific activities, being provided with hard chairs and top bunks to sleep on, insufficient warm clothing in cold weather, queuing for long periods of time for medication, unavailability of grab rails in the showers and being unable to go outside for exercise because exercise areas lack seating or a readily accessible toilet.…”

“…The implications of being treated the same as younger prisoners have been discussed. 61 Crawley 61 conducted interviews with those aged ≥ 65 years in two prisons where there were separate wings for older prisoners, and in two with no such separation. Sustained observations of prisoners' daily life were also conducted.…”