Older prisoners still face double punishment
“It’s not acceptable that, four years on from the Chief Inspector’s previous report, older prisoners still face the double punishment of being locked up in prisons that take little, or no, account of the needs of the elderly.”
Commenting on the thematic review of Older Prisoners in England and Wales by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said:
“It’s not acceptable that, four years on from the Chief Inspector’s previous report, older prisoners still face the double punishment of being locked up in prisons that take little, or no, account of the needs of the elderly. An ageing prison population is being squeezed into overcrowded jails designed and run for young men. The government must ensure that this time the prison service implements all the inspectorate’s recommendations, particularly the need to develop a national strategy on older prisoners.
“As well as greater use of community punishments for older offenders, ministers should also consider developing specialist secure accommodation for the elderly in cases where a custodial sentence is necessary.”
