Analysis of older adults deprived of freedom in Spain: the case of the Madrid VI prison facility

Abstract

The article presents the main results of an investigation analysing the situation of adults aged over 60 years and held in prison in Spain. The research was carried out using a quantitative analysis, complemented with a qualitative study, which permitted an understanding of perceptions and difficulties and the inclusion of the assessments of those subject to investigation. Bibliographic and statistical material for the prison population aged over 60 in Spain was reviewed. Subsequently, the target population was studied via the collection of case-file date and the completion of in-depth interviews with the older adults held in the Madrid VI prison facility. The quantitative techniques used were documentary analysis, statistical exploitation of official secondary data, prison case-files and prisoner treatment protocols. With respect to the qualitative date, prisoners’ social case-files (social histories, social reports, and so on) and the completion of (30) in-depth interviews to understand people’s perception of their reality and their assessments enriched and complemented the study and gave it a more human perspective. The data obtained demonstrate that this is a group with a dual social disadvantage, due to their age and to their situation of imprisonment. The study shows the multiple negative consequences of imprisonment and the deficiencies of the Spanish prison system in addressing those consequences.