A More Leisurely Pursuit

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Wednesday 4 September 2013

Over-50s make up third of inmates at prison for sex offenders

"HMP Bure near Norwich has specially adapted cells, wheelchair pushers and 26 bowls teams, inspectors' report reveals

An English prison that specialises in holding and treating sex offenders has so many prisoners over the age of 50 that it has 26 teams competing in its bowls club, jail inspectors have revealed.

HMP Bure, near Norwich, is one of five specialist jails in England and Wales dedicated by the prison service to cope with the surge in convicted sex offenders.

The number of older prisoners convicted for sex offences has nearly doubled over the past decade, with the jailing of high-profile offenders such as the BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall only the tip of the iceberg of convictions for offences that date back to the 1970s.

The latest official inspection report on Bure prison discloses that 183 of its 500 inmates are over 50, with the oldest aged 84. "The prison had scheduled in monthly mental health awareness training for the coming year, which contained a section on the signs of dementia," said the inspectors who visited in May. "Several activities co-ordinated by the gym were specifically for the over-50s, including a bowls club, which had 26 teams.""

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/04/over-50s-inmates-prison-sex-offenders?CMP=twt_fd

Prisons turning into old peoples’ homes

http://www.insidetime.org/articleview.asp?a=1558&c=prisons_turning_intoold_peoples_homes#.UiePn7eQ9II.twitter