Imprisonment in old age: The case of Germany

Abstract

Currently, there is a lack of reliable data on the effect imprisonment can have on the delinquent’s mental state. Little is known how individuals aged over 60 psychologically and socially adapt to long-term imprisonment, as well as into the enduring effects of their transition back into society post-release. In particular, the attributions through which older prisoners navigate and endure incarceration are insufficiently theorised and underexplored within existing scholarly literature. This article takes into consideration the perspectives of those affected. To this end, an explorative study with older ex-inmates in Germany is presented. The results illustrate different assessment dimensions. Furthermore, all findings were discussed with practice experts regarding implications for age-sensitive sentencing and resocialization. The data reflects the situation in Germany and can only be transferred to other countries and penal systems to a limited extent.