Old and incarcerated: the needs of the elderly offender and ex-offender

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the needs of elderly male offender/ex-offender in South Africa, taking into consideration the aging of the world’s population and matching trend within corrections’ systems worldwide. Sixteen offenders and ex-offenders were interviewed one-on-one for the study. Interviews were guided by open-ended questions and participants’ responses were then analysed to identify common themes. The results were in line with the research discussed in this study’s literature review, with participants echoing the unmet needs of offenders in countries such as the US and the UK, and a clear indication that the facilities forming part of this study are not equipped to house the elderly safely and in accordance with human rights statutes. While South Africa does have an elderly offender policy in place, it does not appear that this policy is being implemented in the two facilities or the community corrections department responsible for the care of the sixteen participants. A broader, mixed-method and in-depth study is required to assess this situation further. Key Terms