Retiring in a Prison Cell: The South African Sentenced Older Adult Male Offender
Author | Karen Booyens,Stephan Geyer,Andries Masenge |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00328855231154799 |
Published date | 01 March 2023 |
Date | 01 March 2023 |
Subject Matter | Articles |
Retiring in a Prison Cell:
The South African
Sentenced Older Adult
Male Offender
Karen Booyens
1
, Stephan Geyer
1
,
and Andries Masenge
1
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to create a profile of the sentenced older
adult male offender incarcerated in South African prisons. The findings of
this investigation are based on face-to-face surveys with 88 older adult
male inmates. In order to develop a comprehensive profile, the study
explored offenders’backgrounds, previous and current offenses, lifestyle pat-
terns, physical and mental health, institutional living conditions, release, rein-
tegration, and mortality in prison. These domains are discussed in detail, and
recommendations are offered for the treatment and care of this offender
group. The recommendations may be applicable to other developing coun-
tries in the Global South.
Keywords
older male adult offender, profile, sentenced inmate, South Africa
Introduction
Internationally, there is a steady rise in the older adult inmate population, also
known as the “greying”offender population (Augustyn et al., 2020).
Furthermore, older inmates are regarded as the fastest-growing prison
1
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Corresponding Author:
Karen Booyens, Department of Social Work and Criminology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag
X20 Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
Email: karen.booyens@up.ac.za
Article
The Prison Journal
2023, Vol. 103(2) 239–257
© 2023 SAGE Publications
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/00328855231154799
journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj
cohort (Fitton et al., 2018; Stoliker & Galli, 2019; Stoliker & Varanese 2017;
Wylie et al., 2018). It is estimated that by the year 2030, more than one-third
of the global prison population will consist of inmates who are older than 50
years of age (Stoliker & Galli, 2019).
There are various reasons for the increase in the older inmate population of
which indeterminate and mandatory sentences are the most cited. Galli et al.
(2019) note that the practice of indeterminate sentencing in Switzerland led to
an increase in older adult inmates. In the United States (US), the 1993 “three
strikes and you’re out”legislation required offenders convicted of three
felony offenses to serve a mandatory life term without parole (Siegel, 2016;
Yorston & Taylor, 2006). Similarly, in South Africa, the so-called
minimum sentence legislation was introduced in terms of the Criminal Law
Amendment Act of 1997. Accordingly, inmates have to serve a mandatory
minimum sentence of imprisonment (25 years) for serious offenses (murder
and rape) before being considered for parole.
With the increase in aging incarcerees, it has become recognized that the
older inmate should be considered a disadvantaged and vulnerable group
(Galli et al., 2019) due to physical and mental health issues, the possibility
of victimization, the prison environment, and issues concerning release, rein-
tegration, and dying inside prison. The former is certainly the case in South
Africa where it is specified in the White Paper on Corrections in South
Africa (2005) that older inmates should be considered a special category of
offenders with specific needs. The Department of Correctional Services
(DCS) in South Africa should identify the needs of older offenders in terms
of recreational activities suitable for older persons, facilities catering to the
physical demands placed on older adults, and appropriate medical care.
However, the DCS does not provide any directive on how these issues
should be addressed. Further, despite their vulnerability, hardly any reference
is made to this specific offender group in the Annual Reports of either the
DCS or the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) who, in
South Africa, is the watchdog over the treatment of offenders and prison
conditions.
To date, no South African study has been undertaken to explore the
nature, extent, and age-specific needs of this offender group. The value
of this study for the DCS and similar developing countries in the Global
South is that it will shed light on the unique age-related concerns of
older adult offenders during and after incarceration. Based on the findings
of this investigation, stakeholders may consider amending the assessment
tools relating to offender needs and risks. In addition, needs-based pro-
grams may be developed according to the identified specific needs of
this offender group.
240 The Prison Journal 103(2)
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