PRISON ACTIVITIES FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ELDERLY INMATES

Abstract

Nowadays, the aging of the population is an undeniable fact and a matter of particular importance in Europe. The prison population has not been immune to the phenomenon of demographic aging. In Portugal, the statistics provided by the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services show, across years, an increase in the incarceration of older people. Based on a set of interviews conducted with women and men, this article intends to explore the prison activities of elderly prisoners, assessing whether there are limitations and how age, associated with the aging process, conditions their participation. The collected data shows the need for specific programs, as the involvement of elderly prisoners in prison activities is limited since they are not appropriate for their age, due to the limitations that result from their aging process.