Ageing Prisoners: Issues for Social Work

The growing numbers and increasing proportion of aged prisoners in Australia is an issue causing some concern, but it has received little public or academic attention here. This article, an outcome of an extensive literature review and a small research study into some individual prisoners’ experience of ageing in South Australian prisons, aims to draw attention to the current situation and what it means to these particular prisoners. Participants shared thoughts, feelings, and reflections about their lives, life-long losses and, for some, the meaning of dying in prison. Analysis revealed themes whose consistency with existing literature suggests they are valid areas meriting timely policy and practice concern and development: prison regimes, housing, health care, and imprisonment or release. The issues raised are discussed in the context of the available literature. This problematic area merits attention from the social work profession and further research.