NCJ Number
64903
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY PRISON INMATES IN THE GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC REVOLVE AROUND THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS AND THEIR EMOTIONAL SENSE OF ISOLATION.
Abstract
STATISTICS INDICATE THAT 5.1 PERCENT OF THE PRISON INMATES IN WEST GERMANY ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD (3.8 PERCENT BETWEEN 50 AND 60, AND 1.3 PERCENT OVER 60). ELDERLY INMATES ARE FOUND IN ALL TYPES OF PRISONS AND CANNOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM THE MASS. PROBLEMS ARISE BECAUSE AGING INDIVIDUALS IN PRISON DECLINE RAPIDLY, REQUIRE LIGHT OR SPECIAL DIETS, AND NEED EXERCISE SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THE ELDERLY ALSO NEED CAREFULLY PLANNED LEISURE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CRAFTS, TELEVISION, AND CONVERSATION OR GAMES IN A DAY-ROOM. ELDERLY INMATES MAY BE INDIVIDUALS WHO DETERIORATE AT AN EARLY AGE BECAUSE OF ILLNESS AND LIFE STYLE, CRIMINALS WHO HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND WHO WISH TO LIVE OUT THEIR TIME IN PRISON, AND 'LATE BLOOMERS' WHO BEGAN A LIFE OF CRIME AT AN ADVANCED AGE. SPECIAL GERIATRIC PRISONS SUCH AS THE ONE IN BADEN WUERTTEMBERG ARE PROPOSED FOR PRISONERS OVER 60 YEARS OLD (OR 55 IN CERTAIN CASES). THE ADVANTAGES OF CENTRALIZED GERIATRIC SERVICES ARE OPTIMAL CARE, THE PREVENTION OF ELDERLY INMATE VEGETATION AMONG YOUNG PRISONERS, THE PRACTICALLY OF PROVIDING SPECIAL DIET REQUIREMENTS IN ONE FACILITY, THE FACILITATION OF SPECIAL THERAPY, REDUCED SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR GERIATRIC PRISONERS, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF AN INHOUSE PHYSICIAN. BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF GERIATRIC CASES, IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER EACH STATE WILL CONVERT AN INSTITUTION TO A GERIATRIC PRISON, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT, ELDERLY CONVICTS MUST BE INTEGRATED WITH THEIR PEERS FOR SATISFACTORY SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)