Coronavirus and the ageing prison population
Age data on prisoners in England and Wales highlight the significant at-risk population.
Yesterday, the Justice Committee re-launched its inquiry into the ageing prison population, after its postponement due to the General Election last year. The inquiry is likely to find an increasing over-60 population in prisons.
As of 31 December 2019, there were 5,158 prisoners in England and Wales aged 60 and over: among the most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
This at-risk population must be prioritised for release.
