Aging behind bars in Portugal: A case study of a prison context

Abstract

This paper presents a study about the ageing of people under detention, based on the analysis of a prison located in the north of Portugal. Scarce studies were developed with this population and statistical data indicates the increasing number of elderly inmates in the Portuguese prison context. This paper intends to explore the perceptions of the inmates who are over 60 years old, as well as other professionals who interact daily with this population. The research is a case study with a qualitative approach. Data collection includes semi-structured interviews to prisoners, the prison director, guards, health professionals, reeducation professionals, etc. For the purpose of this paper, only results from interviews to prisoners will be analyzed (n=11). Ethical issues and procedures were carefully considered during all phases of the research plan. The results intend to contribute to a greater comprehension of the ageing phenomena behind bars and the imprisonment experiences lived by elderly prisoners, including adaptation to prison as well as resocialization issues, pointed out as of great importance by the Portuguese legal system frameworks. Results of this exploratory paper show a description of the social representations of elderly inmates, regarding perspectives of life trajectory without imprisonment, reasons for the crime practice and its interpretation, representation of prison admission, adaptation to prison, representation of the relationship with professionals, social representation of prison population and resocialization and age.