An aging prison population

This chapter will explore the phenomenon of the rapidly growing older prison population within England and Wales, the USA and Australia. Although this increase has been affected by the aging general population, this is not the sole cause in the rise of older prisoners. Therefore, the second section of this chapter introduces contributing factors to an aging prison population, which range from harsher sentencing practices and the types of crimes and the age at which prisoners enter prison. Because of the impact of prison and life prior to prison on prisoners’ health, the third section explores the definition of ‘older prisoner’. The fourth and final section of this chapter explores the health and social needs of older prisoners.