Older people in the Criminal Justice System are a hidden and little-recognised population, which few people would identify as the fastest growing section of the population involved in the UK's criminal justice system.

Definition

An older offender is generally defined as someone involved in the criminal justice system who is aged 50 or over. Although many people aged 50 may not consider themselves "older", it is seen as an appropriate threshold amongst this group in recognition of the practical realities they face. There is substantial evidence to suggest that prisoners suffer greater health problems than the general population, with many of them having health characteristics typical of someone aged ten years older who is not in prison.

Statistics

• The number of older people entering the UK's Criminal Justice System has trebled in the last 20 years
• People aged 60 and over are now the fastest growing age group in the prison estate
• It is estimated that  approximately 10% of prisoners are aged over 50
• More than 80% of older prisoners have long standing illnesses or disabilities
• Over 50% suffer from a mental disorder
• 30% have a diagnosis of depression
• The number of sentenced prisoners aged 60 and over rose by 128% between 2000 and 2010
• Between 1996 and 2006, the aged 60 and over population in prisons increased by 149%, and the aged 50-59 population rose by 74%
• A worst case scenario is that there will be a prison population of 101,900 by 2014 - this may equate to over 10,000 older offenders in prison

• There are no specific national policies addressing the particular needs of this group
• Those retired in prison often have no educational or leisure opportunities and remain locked in their cells for long periods of time
• Many older prisoners have lost contact with friends and family, and often do not have a home to return to on release from prison
• Funding for education in prisons is often limited to people of working age
• Disabilities associated with chronic disease and lifestyle are more common in older prisoners than older people in the community
• Individual institutions and organisations often lack the resources and specialist knowledge to meet older people’s health and social care requirements
• Despite being the fastest growing section of the prison population, there is little research, little data or information, and little current provision available for older offenders

Why are numbers increasing?

From the few studies conducted to date the growth in the older prison population is generally attributed to:

• Changes in social and police attitudes to older people
• Lower tolerance by the courts of deviant behaviour by older people and therefore a greater readiness to imprison them
• Changes in sentencing policy; “other offences” rose 94% between 1995 and 2005
• Imprisonment for breach of supervision licence has increased 855% 1995-2005 (from 104 to 993)
• Imprisonment for bail act offences between 1995 and 2005 has risen 746% from (194 to 1642)
• An increase in female convictions for drug related crime , especially by foreign nationals
• An increase in female convictions for violence, potentially linked to female drinking
• Tougher sentencing in general, especially longer sentences for sex offences and mandatory life sentences
• The accumulation in prison of older habitual offenders and those ageing through long sentences
• The impact of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will continue to increase demand for prison places, with an expected increase  of prisoners on Extended Sentences for Public Protection

It is clear that the increases in numbers cited are part of a trend resulting from changes in attitudes within society and the criminal justice system, coupled with an ageing population. However, to date, very few additional resources have been made nationally available to meet the needs of this particular group of offenders, either within or outside of prisons.