BROMLEY BRIEFINGS PRISON FACTFILE - Prison Reform Trust

Elderly prisoners (aged 60 and over)On 30 June 2007 there were 2,221 prisonersaged over 60 in England and Wales, including405 over 70. 204 The number of sentencedprisoners aged 60 and over rose by 169%between 1995 and 2005. 205More than one in ten older prisoners belongto a minority ethnic group, far higher thanthe proportion of the general population. 206The majority of men in prison aged 60 andover (56%) have committed sex offences. Thenext highest offence is violence against theperson (20%) followed by drug offences (11%). 207In March 2007, the number of prisoners over60 serving sentences of 1-5 years was 541.551 were serving sentences of 6-10 years. 749were serving sentences of over 10 years. 208The number and proportion of men aged over60 sentenced to prison by the courts hasincreased significantly. Between 1995 and 2000the number of elderly males given custodialsentences increased by 55%. In 1995 finesaccounted for the majority of sentences (31%).By 2000 imprisonment accounted for themajority of sentences (31%) and fines accountedfor 24%. 209The significant rise in the number of maleprisoners aged over 60 is not matched by acorresponding rise in the number of menconvicted by the courts for indictableoffences. Between 1995 and 2000 the number ofconvictions for this age group increased by only8%. 210The increase in the elderly prisonpopulation is not explained by demographicchanges, nor can it be explained by a socalled‘elderly crime wave’. The increases aredue to harsher sentencing policies which haveresulted in the courts sending a largerproportion of criminals aged over 60 to prisonto serve longer sentences.This has particularlybeen the case in relation to sex offenders anddrug traffickers.The courts are also tending toimprison those older offenders whose crimesmost challenge society’s age-relatedstereotypes. 211A Department of Health study conducted in1999/2000 of 203 sentenced male prisonersaged 60 and over in 15 establishments inEngland and Wales (about one-fifth of thattotal population) reported that 85% hadone or more major illnesses reported in theirmedical records and 83% reported at leastone chronic illness or disability wheninterviewed. The most common illnesses werepsychiatric, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal andrespiratory. 212More than half of all elderly prisoners sufferfrom a mental disorder. The most commondisorder is depression which often emerges as aresult of imprisonment. 213In 2003, 21 people aged over 65 died ofnatural causes whilst in prison. 214204. Prison Reform Trust, information from Offender Policy and Rights Unit, 30 June 2007205. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 20 March 2007, and Offender Management Caseload Statistics, 2005206. Prison Reform Trust (2003) Growing Old in Prison, London: Prison Reform Trust207. Prison Reform Trust, information from Offender Policy and Rights Unit, 30 June 2007208. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 15 March 2007209. HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2004) ‘No problems – old and quiet’: Older prisoners in England and Wales, a thematic review by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons,London: Stationery Office210. Ibid.211. Ibid.212. Prison Reform Trust (2003) Growing Old in Prison, London: Prison Reform Trust213. Ibid.214. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 10 February 2004www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk 25