Older prisoners: Challenges for inmates and prison management

Abstract

There is considerable evidence pointing towards the growth of older prisoner populations in Australia. This article presents findings from the first large-scale study of older prisoners in Australia (N = 173), examining functional independence, aspects of the prison environment which present difficulties for less able older prisoners, the uptake of prison programs and social functioning from the perspective of older prisoners. Results indicate that 22% of prisoners aged 50 years and older required assistance in day-to-day tasks, and that bunks, stairs and bathroom facilities presented the greatest difficulties for older inmates. The majority of older prisoners (77%) engaged in prison work and approximately one half of those nearing release had attended offending behaviour programs. Prisoners aged 65 years and older were more likely to describe social disconnection, were more likely to be experiencing functional impairments and victimisation in prison, and those experiencing functional impairment were more likely to report feeling unsafe in prison compared to prisoners aged 50 to 64 years. Implications for corrections planning and prison management are discussed.

Prison Experiences and Psychological Distress among Older Inmates

“…There is qualitative evidence that fear of such victimization limits the level of social engagement of older prisoners, generating experiences of isolation (Dawes, 2009;Wahidin, 2004). Older prisoners have indicated their use of various strategies to manage safety, including avoiding proximity to younger prisoners, and keeping in the vicinity of prison staff and other older inmates (Trotter & Baidawi, 2015). Researchers have concluded that "Older and more frail inmates may devote a substantial portion of their day-to-day existence trying to minimize the dangers of imprisonment" (Aday & Krabill, 2012, p. 213).…”

“…As is the accepted norm in this area, a modified definition of 'older prisoner' was adopted for Indigenous prisoners only (45 years and older) to account for the shorter life expectancy in this population (See e.g. Trotter & Baidawi, 2015;Leach & Neto, 2011).…”

“…Recruitment occurred from eight sites, including both male and female prisons, a variety of security ratings and both public and private prisons (see Trotter & Baidawi, 2015 for further details). A disproportionate quota sampling strategy was used with a view to representing diversity among the older prisoners.…”

“…While precise data regarding offence types of the broader older prisoner population were not available, older prisoners convicted of sexual offences appear to be over-represented in the sample (62.2%, n=107) compared to the limited older prisoner population data located (28% -42%) (Leach & Neto, 2011;Trotter & Baidawi, 2015). Accordingly, a high proportion of the older prisoner sample were in protection placements at the time of the interview (n=130 (75.6%)), though these were all male prisoners (87.2% of the male older prisoner sample).…”

“…Older people are the fastest growing age subgroup of prisoners in many countries worldwide, although they tend to only comprise a minority of overall prisoner populations (Aday & Krabill, 2012;Trotter & Baidawi, 2015). Correctional facilities, regimes and programs are generally more suited to the needs of younger inmates (Aday, 2003;Kerbs & Jolley, 2009;Potter, Cashin, Chenoweth, & Jeon, 2007;Wahidin, 2004), a situation which has been suggested to contribute to disadvantage and marginalization of older prisoners (Crawley, 2005).…”