Should we be sending the elderly to prison?

From the New Statesman

With more old people behind bars than ever before, British prisons are slowly turning into dysfunctional nursing homes with a few visitors and a crippling sense of despair. While research suggests that the cognitive abilities of a child are comparable to those of the elderly, should there be an upper age limit for criminal responsibility akin to the infancy defence?

Thanks to our ageing population and the surge in harsher sentences, over 60s are the fastest growing group within our prison population. Over the last decade, their numbers increased by more than double, and by March last year, there were 102 prisoners aged over 80 and 5 who were 90 or older.

The problem lies in the fact that the majority of the older prisoners, particularly those over 60, suffer chronic illness or disability. Yet most prison estates are designed for the young and able. Norwich prison has Britain’s only elderly ward, and it mainly accommodates lifers. The multi-storey wards, narrow doors and the tough regime make for a particularly intimidating and inaccessible environment for elderly prisoners...

Read the rest here.