Rethinking imprisonment for older male prisoners

The number of older male prisons has increased substantially in recent years. Prisons, historically focused on managing incarcerated younger men, have struggled to respond to the health, social care and regime needs of older prisoners, potentially undermining the rehabilitation of older prisoners because of regimes that fail to meet their needs. Drawing on a case study research project conducted in 2016-17 at a male category C training prison, which attempted to rethink imprisonment for older prisoner, the presentation will explain the reasons for the growth in the older male prisoner population and its implications. We will then will draw on elements of good practice and issues identified in our case study to suggest a ‘model’ regime for older prisoners. In doing so, the presentation will examine conceptions and definitions of older prisoners , how individual prisoners embody old age and the wider policy context and argue that these need to be rethought if prisons are to be able to meet the needs of older prisoners