Elderly People in Prison: A Portrait of Rights Violations in Brazil

Abstract

The general objective of this study is to understand the social reality of elderly prisoners in Rio Grande do Sul, in order to relate it to the scope of state social protection. Methodologically, a bibliographic and documentary study was conducted, using a mixed approach, via content analysis, guided by the critical dialectical method. The results point to precarious conditions in meeting the needs of elderly people in prison. There is a lack of adapted spaces and fragility in guaranteeing the rights provided for in the Statute of the Elderly (2003) and the Federal Constitution (1988), reinforcing criminal selectivity and the insufficiency of state protection, especially when it comes to elderly women. Life prior to imprisonment is marked by social issues revolving around poverty, low education, and violence. Homicide and sexual violence predominate among men, while drug trafficking predominates among women. The protection initiatives that have been mapped out consist of specific or emergency actions, which do not constitute a public policy for care. In this sense, elderly people deprived of their liberty have suffered clear violations of their rights in Brazil.