Elderly Prisoners Research Articles

PENERAPAN PERATURAN MENTERI HUKUM DAN HAM NO 32 TAHUN 2018 PADA UNIT PELAKSANA TEKNIS PEMASYARAKATAN

The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of the regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No. 32 of 2018 concerning the treatment of elderly prisoners and convicts, where the regulation can be used as a reference for the Correctional Technical Implementation Unit to carry out services for elderly inmates.The research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach. trying to explain by describing the conditions that exist in the Technical Implementing Unit in providing services to elderly prisoners and comparing it with PermenKUMHAM No. 32 of 2018. The results of the study explain that the implementation of PermenKumHAM No. 32 of 2018 in the Correctional Technical Implementation Unit has not been evenly implemented. , but that does not mean that it is not carried out at all in the technical implementing unit.

Self-rating of depression in elderly prisoners in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Aim: Against the background of the rising number of elderly people being incarcerated and the rare data on this special subgroup, the aim of our study was to collect first empirical data on the affective state of elderly prisoners in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. Methods: Data were collected in nine German prisons. We included elderly prisoners from pretrial prevention, penal sentences, open enforcement, preventive detention and from special detention units for elderly inmates. For the evaluation of the affective state, we used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Sociodemographic and crime-related characteristics were documented. Findings: In total, n=116 prisoners (91.4% male) were included. The age ranged from 53 to 91 years (65.6±6.3 years). In our sample, 48% reported at least mild depressive symptoms, which is a significantly higher prevalence of depressive symptomatology than in the general population aged 60 years and older. Differences were found with regard to the type of detention, as prisoners in open enforcement showed significantly less symptoms compared to those in pretrial prevention and preventive detention. The participants reported in general more somatic symptoms as sleep disturbances and fatigue compared to mood items as feelings of sadness. Originality: It is the first study assessing the affective state of older prisoners in Germany. The high rate of depressive symptoms in our sample is in line with findings from international studies underlining the need for adequate diagnostics and therapy. In addition, in a previous study depression was indirectly linked with a greater risk of re-incarceration, fortifying the need for successful treatment of depression in prison both for the individuum and for society.

Penanganan Masalah Rentan Narapidana Lanjut Usia dan Pembinaannya Di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Narkotika Kelas IIA Karang Intan

The purpose of this writing also aims to establish regulations in the standard of treatment of inmates and elderly prisoners by going through the Jakarta statement (Jakarta Rules) that will change the development of the elderly to a better direction, by paying attention to the rules of the law that has been set. Journal writing is made using qualitative methods whose writing is descriptive and uses an approach to the rule of law that can describe the situation of existing field conditions. From the results of the current field research, there are still elderly inmates who in the process of coaching are likened to inmates of productive age in general, and services that have not been seen specifically for elderly inmates. Elderly inmates are very vulnerable so they must get special attention in their self-reliance services, because it can be seen in terms of their physical condition that is vulnerable (weak) and is not as good as the physical inmate in general so that inmates who are classified as elderly should get special attention to their coaching and adapted to the way they pay attention to the laws that govern it.

Do Prisoners' Lives Matter? Examining the Intersection of Punitive Policies, Racial Disparities and COVID-19 as State Organized Race Crime

Numerous Michigan prisons emerged as national hotspots early in the coronavirus crisis. Once the virus entered the prisons, key actions and inaction by Michigan Department of Corrections and Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed COVID-19 to flourish unabated, resulting in unnecessary infection and death; a form of cruel and unusual punishment. The callous neglect of the human rights of prisoners during the pandemic is not new, but rather the result of decades of punitive sentencing policies that disproportionately target people of colour. Through a case study examination of early coronavirus outbreaks in Michigan prisons, this paper will consider how Truth in Sentencing legislation, increasingly long prison sentences and declining parole rates, helped set the stage for coronavirus to spread, disproportionately harming Black and elderly prisoners. As the intersecting crises of coronavirus and mass incarceration exemplify, state crime scholars can no longer ignore the state-organized race crime occurring behind prison walls.

PELAKSANAAN PELAYANAN KESEHATAN GERIATRI BAGI NARAPIDANA LANJUT USIA DI LEMBAGA PEMASYARAKATAN DENGAN PEMERIKSAAN RUTIN

This paper aims to determine the provision of geriatric health services to elderly prisoners. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach, the data collected by researchers by conducting field studies is conducting interviews with several correctional officers to obtain data through interviews, field studies and literature reviews in explaining the provision of geriatric health services to elderly prisoners. The results showed that service delivery was constrained by costs, facilities and infrastructure as well as a lack of human resources who were experts in the health sector. Elderly prisoners do not get the geriatric care that should be done so that elderly prisoners receive treatment and prevention of diseases and health problems due to ageing. This can be handled by carrying out routine checks on inmates. Not only examinations but also counselling activities about the health experienced by elderly prisoners. This examination is carried out by the prison in collaboration with the regional health office and is carried out regularly every week. With this routine check-up, elderly prisoners can overcome their health problems and prevent diseases that usually attack a person due to ageing.

Cognitive dysfunction in older prisoners in Germany: a cross-sectional pilot study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to collect the first empirical data on the cognitive state of elderly prisoners in Germany and to examine associations between cognitive function and sociodemographic, clinical and incarceration characteristics.Design/methodology/approachAll prisoners aged 60 years and older of five prisons in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, were asked to participate. The cognitive screening instruments mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the DemTect were used to assess global cognition. Executive functions were tested with the trail making test and the frontal-assessment-battery. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess participants’ affective state.FindingsThe sample of this study consisted of 58 prisoners with a mean age of 65.52 years (standard deviation = 6.03); 82.8% are male. Using the MMSE with age- and education-corrected z-scores, 36.9% of the prisoners showed marginal or impaired global cognition scores. Using the DemTect, 41.4% of the prisoners were classified as being cognitively impaired. Up to 40% of the prisoners showed deficits in executive functioning and around 60% of the prisoners showed depressive symptoms. The correlation analysis revealed significant associations between cognitive scores and age (rho = –0.335, p = 0.014), education (rho = 0.309, p = 0.020), sentence duration (rho = 0.409, p = 0.007) and duration of current incarceration (rho = 0.302, p = 0.043). The DemTect total score was significantly associated with the PHQ-9 (rho = –0.335, p = 0.016).Practical implicationsA large group of the prisoners showed a higher prevalence of cognitive dysfunction than that observed in same-age people who are not incarcerated. Taken together, there is an urgent need for an adequate management of older cognitively impaired prisoners including routine cognitive testing and guidelines-oriented treatment of cognitive symptoms.Originality/valueThis study has several strengths. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study examining the cognitive and affective state in a German prison population. The authors considered female and male prisoners, as well as different prison settings, representing a realistic prison sample. The authors used several neuropsychological instruments to get a more detailed insight into the older prisoners’ cognitive status while trying to consider the economy of time and possible attention deficits to prevent dropouts during testing.

The Special Perils of Being Old and Sick in Prison

The United States Supreme Court declared in 1976 that deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain…proscribed by the Eighth Amendment. It matters not whether the indifference is manifested by prison doctors in their response to the prisoner’s needs or by prison guards intentionally denying or delaying access to medical care or intentionally interfering with treatment once prescribed—adequate prisoner medical care is required by the United States Constitution. My incarceration for four years at the Oakdale Satellite Prison Camp, a chronic health care level camp, gives me the perspective to challenge the generally promoted claim of the Bureau of Federal Prisons that it provides decent medical care by competent and caring medical practitioners to chronically unhealthy elderly prisoners. The same observation, to a slightly lesser extent, could be made with respect to deficiencies in the delivery of health care to prisoners of all ages, as it is all significantly deficient in access, competencies, courtesies and treatments extended by prison health care providers at every level of care, without regard to age. However, the frailer the prisoner, the more dangerous these health care deficiencies are to his health and, therefore, I believe, warrant separate attention. This paper uses first-hand experiences of elderly prisoners to dismantle the tale that prisoner healthcare meets constitutional standards.

The Unusual Cruelty of Nursing Homes Behind Bars

The elderly prison population continues to rise along with higher rates of dementia behind bars. To maintain the detention of this elderly population, federal and state prisons are creating long-term care units, which in turn carry a heavy financial burden. Prisons are thus gearing up to become nursing homes, but without the proper trained staff and adequate financial support. The costs both to taxpayers and to human dignity are only now becoming clear. This article squarely addresses the second dimension of this carceral practice, that is the cost to human dignity. Namely, it sets out why indefinitely incarcerating someone with dementia or other neurocognitive disorders violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. This conclusion derives from the confluence of two lines of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. First, in Madison v. Alabama, the Court recently held that executing someone (in Madison’s case someone with dementia) who cannot rationally understand their sentence amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Second, in line with Miller v. Alabama, which puts life without parole (LWOP) sentences in the same class as death sentences due to their irrevocability, this holding should be extended to LWOP sentences. Put another way, this article explains why being condemned to life is equivalent to death for someone whose neurodegenerative disease is so severe that they cannot rationally understand their punishment.

Like a fish on a hook: a grounded theory study of incarcerated Filipino elderly agony

ABSTRACT To date, little to no attempt has been made yet to describe how people experience agony, specifically, the elderly population in the penal setting and how exactly this experience of agony affects these marginalized communities. This grounded theory paper aspires to contribute to the understanding of the complexity of agony specifically, shedding light on what happens to incarcerated elderly when they experience this process of agonizing in prison. The Strauss and Corbin grounded theory method of analysis was utilized to generate theories from systematically obtained and analyzed data. A total of 25 respondents were selected using inclusion criteria and chosen through purposive sampling. Subsequently, a two-part data gathering tool was used consisting of a robotfoto and individual interviews. Lastly, the emerged themes were further subjected to member checking procedures to establish the credibility of the data collected. From the vertical and horizontal analyses of the verbalizations and sharings of a select group of elderly prisoners, the Splash Model of Agony has emerged which describes the Triggering, Escalating, and Plummeting phases of their agony while in prison.

The Unusual Cruelty of Nursing Homes Behind Bars

The elderly prison population continues to rise along with higher rates of dementia behind bars. To maintain the detention of this elderly population, federal and state prisons are creating long-term care units, which in turn carry a heavy financial burden. Prisons are thus gearing up to become nursing homes, but without the proper trained staff and adequate financial support. The costs both to taxpayers and to human dignity are only now becoming clear. This article squarely addresses the second dimension of this carceral practice, that is the cost to human dignity. Namely, it sets out why indefinitely incarcerating someone with dementia or other neurocognitive disorders violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. This conclusion derives from the confluence of two lines of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. First, in Madison v. Alabama, the Court recently held that executing someone (in Madison’s case someone with dementia) who cannot rationally understand their sentence amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Second, in line with Miller v. Alabama, which puts life without parole (LWOP) sentences in the same class as death sentences due to their irrevocability, this holding should be extended to LWOP sentences. Put another way, this article explains why being condemned to life is equivalent to death for someone whose neurodegenerative disease is so severe that they cannot rationally understand their punishment.

Examining the role of depression in the Filipino elderly’s food preferences in prison setting: data from conjoint analysis and SEM

PurposePrevious studies suggest that the care for elderly prisoners is a growing problem. The emerging phenomenon such as the correctional ageing crisis is an urgent concern that needs to be collectively and holistically addressed from a multi-sectoral perspective. In a developing country, like the Philippines, where prison congestion is alarming, the need for more empirical investigations that probe into the prison life and services is warranted to better inform penal policy and practice that would improve health outcomes among incarcerated individuals. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which depression among Filipino elderly prisoners shape their food choices.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 160 Filipino elderly prisoners of age 60 and above from October to November 2018 was conducted using a three-part research instrument, which consists of a personal and nutrition-related checklist, 15-point geriatric depression scale and a set of cards that were ranked and sorted through the balanced incomplete block design.FindingsResults of the survey were subjected to conjoint analysis and structural equation modeling using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 24. Interestingly, taste was the most considered attribute (30.765%) while portion size (9.759%) is the least considered by the Filipino elderly prisoners. Notably, depression has a significant positive effect on their food preferences in all attributes except portion size.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to two prison settings in the Philippines. Considering the results from the conjoint analysis, strategies can be developed in designing an individualized meal plan suitable for the needs of each elderly prisoner. Also, sizeable government appropriations should be in place to ensure the nutritional quality of food served to aging Filipino prisoners.Practical implicationsProvisions for a pool of nutritionists working hand in hand with other health members would guarantee a prison system that promotes the overall well-being of each prisoner. Further, this study can contribute valuable inputs in the menu cycle practice of prisons in the country. There may be a need to prioritize the nutritional aspect of these vulnerable and deprived groups so as to promote a better quality of life among elderly prisoners. Also, other forms of psychosocial, physical and spiritual health activities extended to elderly prisoners may prevent depressive symptoms.Originality/valueConjoint analysis is remarkably gaining prominence in not only the health-care setting (Phillips et al., 2002; Ryan and Farrar, 2000) but also the field of nutrition. It holds a number of unique and practical promises to prison settings.

We can be as busy as a bee: a grounded theory study of Filipino elderly prisoners’ engagement

ABSTRACTThe centrality of social relationship for older adults living in prison cannot be underestimated. While previous studies have investigated the loss of social functioning among older prisoners, there is no known information pertaining to how engagement is experienced among this vulnerable group. This grounded study purports to describe the process by which engagement is experienced among a select group of incarcerated Filipino elderly. Strauss and Corbin’s Grounded Theory design was utilized. A total of 25 incarcerated Filipino elderly in the largest penitentiary in the country were purposively chosen to participate in semi-structured interviews. Field texts were subjected to thematic analysis involving open, axial, and selective coding. Finally, themes were validated via member checking procedure. Interestingly, the study afforded the development of de Guzman, Herrera, Hernando, Hipe, and Valdez Zipper of Engagement Theory among incarcerated elderly. Interestingly, three phases relative to engagement emerged, namely: Initiating, Connecting, and Enabling. Primarily, the Initiating phase involves feelings of fear and nervousness as the incarcerated elderly familiarize themselves with the prison environment. The Connecting phase typifies recognition of the benefits of engagement leading to voluntary participation in activities. Finally, in the Enabling phase, inmates empower themselves and others to grow as they fully acquire the sense of engagement. Gerontological education and research implications are discussed.

Depression in Indonesian Elderly Inmates: A Preliminary Study

Background: Physical and social environments in prisons cause mental disorders, the prevalence of depression is higher in correctional settings than in general population. Depression is one of mental disorders among older adult including elderly prisoners, however the incidence is uncertain particularly in Indonesia.
 Objectives: This study aims to describe the prevalence of depression among elderly inmates in Indonesia.
 Methods: A survey study design was employed on 21 elderly inmates selected by total sampling method in a prison in Indonesia. Data was collected by a face to face interview using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and statistical analysis used descriptive statistics.
 Results: The study revealed that 4.76% elderly had extremely severe depression, 4.76% elderly had severe depression, 9.52% elderly had medium depression,23.81%elderlyhadmilddepression,and57.14%elderlyhadnodepression.
 Conclusions: Prevalence of depression among elderly inmates was relatively high. Thus, providing counseling to elderly to cope with prison environment will increase problem solving.

The Management of Elderly Prisoners in France

Very few studies have examined the mental disorders of elderly prisoners and the difficulties related to their management. For this study, 40 prison workers were interviewed (custodial staff, social workers, and probation officers) to assess staff professional practices and approaches in managing elderly inmates. Findings showed highly ambivalent attitudes to the age-related vulnerabilities of elderly incarcerees, at both emotional and professional levels. Staff attempts to make the incarcerated elderly conform to some four traditional images of the prisoner roles (enemy/citizen/threat/user) may lead some prison staff to use emotional defense mechanisms.

Suicide in Older Prisoners in Germany.

As in many countries, the numbers of older prisoners are rising in Germany, but scientific information on this group is scarce. For the current study, a survey was used that included all prison suicides in Germany between the years of 2000 and 2013. Suicide rates of the elderly prisoners exceeded the suicide rates of the general population and the same age group. We observed a continuous decrease in the suicide rate of elderly prisoners. When compared to the younger suicide victims in prison, significantly more elderly suicide victims were: female, of German nationality, remand prisoners, or serving a life sentence. In Germany, elderly prisoners are a vulnerable subpopulation of the prison population. Higher suicide rates than in the same age group in the general population indicate unmet needs regarding mental disorders and their specific treatment.

Effect of age, time spent in prison and level of education on the perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners in France, and to see whether there is a link between aging, time spent in prison and level of education and scores for perceived health and quality of life. The authors' recruited 138 male prisoners aged 50 and over in seven French prisons. The research protocol comprised a semi-structured interview and two scales. The results revealed low levels of perceived health and quality of life among the elderly inmates. They also showed that age was not statistically associated with most of the dimensions of perceived health on the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), with the exception of poor mobility. By contrast, age was statistically associated with most of the dimensions of quality of life on the WHOQOL-Bref. Time spent in prison was only associated negatively with the "sleep" dimension of the NHP. Emotional reactions were perceived most positively by the inmates with the highest level of education. It seems particularly important to assess the perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners in order to ensure their appropriate treatment and management. Very few studies have examined the perceived health and quality of life of prisoners, even though this population is particularly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health.

L’effet de l’âge et de la durée d’incarcération sur la santé mentale des détenus âgés

Inmate aging is considered to start at the age of 50, which is early in relation to aging in the general population. The aging of the criminal population in France poses a real public health problem. There is very little research on the mental health (mental and cognitive disorders) of older inmates. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age and time spent in prison on mental disorders and cognitive performance of elderly prison inmates. We put forward the hypothesis that age and amount of time spent in prison are associated with the deterioration of older inmates’ mental health, that is, an increase in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and a decrease in cognitive performance. MethodsWe recruited 138 men aged 50 and over in seven French prisons. The research protocol included a semi-directive interview, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI DSM-IV) for the assessment of mental disorders, as well as the Rapid Battery for Frontal Efficiency (BREF) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) for the evaluation of cognitive performance. ResultsThe average age of the inmates (N=138) was 59.7 years (range 50–84, SD=8.02). The average sentence was approximately 13.5 years (SD=7) and the average time spent in prison was 6.9 years (SD=5.9). The results showed a very high prevalence of mental disorders, notably depression and anxiety, and cognitive disorders. However, the probability of occurrence of certain psychiatric diagnoses decreases with age (major depressive episode, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety). In addition, logistic regression estimates showed no significant relationship between time spent in prison and mental disorders. However, there is a significant link between time spent in prison and cognitive impairment. ConclusionOur hypothesis is partially validated. Indeed, age is not associated with mental or cognitive disorders. However, the amount of time spent in prison has an effect on the deterioration of certain cognitive functions. It appears that after the age of 50, it is not chronological age but environmental factors that mainly explain cognitive decline. Our study shows that the longer the detention period, the greater the inmate's cognitive decline. These results highlight the very high vulnerability of elderly prisoners in terms of mental health and emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate detection and care measures to address the needs of this segment of the criminal population. Routine screening for cognitive impairment in all older prisoners should be carried out by caregivers in penitentiary institutions. Furthermore, better follow-up and cognitive assessment of prisoners aged 50 or more and whose length of incarceration exceeds five years could make it possible to detect subjects at risk and to propose appropriate activities to reduce and/or delay the effects of aging in detention.

Support Needs of Elderly Prisoners Re-entering the Community: Interviews with Staff of Regional Sustained Community Life Support Centers for Elderly and Disabled Ex-offenders

Support Needs of Elderly Prisoners Re-entering the Community: Interviews with Staff of Regional Sustained Community Life Support Centers for Elderly and Disabled Ex-offenders

Elderly and pathological prisoners: a new health and prison issue

The ageing of the population of criminals in prison is a trend that is expected to increase. Faced with this phenomenon, caregivers and penitentiaries must adapt to a prison environment that is not always designed to handle the increase in the number of elderly and pathological prisoners.

Palliative Care for Inmates in the Hospital Setting.

The US population of inmates continues to increase along with a rapid escalation in the number of elderly prisoners. Previous studies have demonstrated multiple barriers to providing palliative care for seriously ill inmates. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of palliative care consultation and nature of consultation requests for inmates who died while hospitalized at a large tertiary care hospital. A retrospective chart review of all inmate decedents over a 10-year time period was conducted. The reason and timing of consultation was noted in addition to symptoms identified and interventions recommended by the palliative care team. Characteristics of patients who were transferred to the inpatient palliative care unit were also recorded. Forty-five percent of inmates were seen by palliative care prior to their death. Timing of consultation was close to the day of death. Inmates with cancer were significantly more likely to have a palliative care consultation prior to death. The most frequent intervention recommended was opiates for pain or dyspnea. Delirium was often missed by the primary team but was identified by the palliative care team. Nearly, 5000 prisoners die each year, mostly in community hospitals. These patients exhibit similar symptoms to free-living patients. Given that the inmate population has a higher rate of comorbid conditions, there is a need for more research to identify areas of need for incarcerated patients and where palliative care can best serve these individuals.