A Day in the Life: How Time is Spent Doing Time among Older Inmates

Abstract

Based on an interview study with 67 male inmates, aged 55 and above, at a medium security facility, the most common activities in reports on daily life were exercise, employment, and program participation. Respondents were considerably less active in these areas than older adults living in the community. Quantitative analysis showed that higher levels of involvement in activity were not correlated with enhanced health nor greater sociability. Inmates subjectively confirmed that tangible benefits from activity were lacking, reflected in their perceptions of insurmountable barriers to participation, constraints on initiative to pursue activity, and skepticism that participation would yield desirable outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• employment
• exercise
• inmates
• prison programs

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am indebted to Roberta Richman and Dr. Michael Fine whose concern for the needs of aging prisoners was a catalyst for the current study and who expedited the research process. Funding from the Rhode Island Faculty Research Committee enabled the investigation to be launched. I am grateful to Darlene Ciambrone who conducted the majority of interviews, carrying them out diligently and with empathy. I thank the respondents for their participation and willingness to share their experiences with us. The comments of Diane Martell, Desiree Ciambrone, and Jill Harrison on an earlier draft are much appreciated.