Strategy overdue

More than three and a half years have passed since a strategy was first promised by the last government in response to a House of Commons Justice Committee inquiry on the ageing prison population. The delay now means that the new government is inheriting a significant challenge. However, it also provides an opportunity to correct this and to set a new strategic focus.

In just 20 years the number of people in prison aged 50 or over has nearly trebled, rising from around 5,000 in 2003 to almost 15,000 in 2023. They currently account for around one in six people currently in prison (17%).

Based on consultation with 121 men and women aged 50 and over serving these sentences in 39 prisons in the UK, the report provides insights into their experience of being older and in prison, as well as proposals to ensure that their views are considered as part of the development of an older prisoners’ strategy.

The report reveals some of the distinct challenges faced by older people in prison. These include the disconnect between activities aimed at reducing reoffending and preparing for a life after release, whilst simultaneously facing the prospect of their own death in prison; their desire to regain purpose and to support younger prisoners; and the importance of dignity when faced with growing health and social care needs.

Key themes

Six key themes emerge from the report:

Sentencing and adapting to prison life

For many participants, having already ‘lived a life’ minimised the feeling of ‘missing out’ and provided a sense of emotional maturity, which made adapting to the sentence easier than if it had happened at an earlier life-stage. However, this could also exacerbate people’s sense of loss. Having had independence, with the ability to make choices and have ‘normal’ responsibilities, the loss of autonomy was hard to accept. There were few opportunities to grieve this previous life, and respondents felt themselves becoming deskilled, disconnected, and institutionalised.

Relationships outside

Participants spoke about alternate lives continuing outside, with families and friends moving on without them. They talked about how having limited relationships with people on the outside impacted their motivation for leaving prison, and compounded feelings of loneliness and disconnection. Many had or expected to experience bereavements of loved ones whilst inside or have been/will be ‘deserted’ by family members unwilling to maintain their relationship. Some will leave prison with no friends or family to return to. Others are faced with the prospect of their own death in prison.

Purposeful activity

Many participants felt that education, behavioural programmes, and other activities were focused on the needs of younger people and/or were difficult to access. They reported few opportunities to engage with programmes aimed at the older prisoner cohort, and a high number of activities were based on employment, which was not always relevant to this group. Some wanted more opportunities to use the skills they had as a way of using their time purposefully, including peer mentoring or teaching roles that could benefit others.

Relationships inside

Despite the desire to provide support to younger prisoners, participants reported that the relationship between different age groups in prison could sometimes be strained. Older prisoners spoke of favouring a quieter, calmer environment, and being more compliant. The risk of elderly prisoners becoming vulnerable to intimidation and humiliation around their age-related health needs was also raised.

Health and wellbeing

Participants spoke about the importance of dignity around growing old in prison, particularly in relation to health and social care. For example, some shared instances of being unnecessarily cuffed when attending hospital visits. As participants age, the importance of these issues grows. From menopause to mobility-restricting conditions, participants faced a multitude of health concerns and faced barriers in getting the healthcare they required. They felt that their diet, physical space and day-to-day lifestyles (often sedentary and isolated) accelerated the onset of frailty and worsened health outcomes.

Imagined futures

Many participants conveyed a sense of ‘dying inside’ due to the loss of purpose, identity, and relationships. With limited opportunities for connection, meaningful activity or development, and experiencing the impact of poor health, some felt hopeless about the future. Some knew and/or feared dying in prison. Others were so worried about what would happen on release they would rather opt to die inside.