Elder prisoners in Brazil: a systematic literature review

Abstract

The elder population in Brazilian prisons constitutes a growing phenomenon. Stereotypes such as “frail and helpless elder” permeate the social imaginary and contribute to the invisibility of this contingent. This systematic literature review analyzed articles, theses and dissertations based on the question “What has been published about incarcerated elders in Brazil throughout the last ten years?”. Journals indexed in SciELO, BVS Brazil, LILACS, PePSIC, Google Scholar, CAPES Journal Portal and the CAPES Thesis and Dissertation Bank were consulted. Six articles and five dissertations were selected for analysis - five theoretical studies, three empirical studies and three experience reports - organized into categories: a) Penitentiary System and incarcerated elders; b) Health of incarcerated elder population; c) Perception of incarcerated older people about aging; d) Legislation and Public Policies; e) Crimes committed by elders. The results indicate that the number of elders grows inside and outside penitentiaries. The elder as defendant experiences insecurity in the criminal sphere, as there is no consensus regarding age in judicial documents. The State does not seem to be able to guarantee physical and mental integrity of this population (in disagreement with the premises in the Elders Statute), given precarious conditions of the Prison System.