Bevan Spencer Von Einem is 68, and although his sentence has expired, he is likely to be in jail until he dies, because the State Government has refused to release him.
Source: News Limited
THE state’s growing population of elderly prison inmates will need bigger bedrooms, hand rails and music appreciation classes, and some should be sent to nursing homes, a State Government report says.
There are now eight senior citizens aged 80 or older in the state’s prisons, which have experienced a 200 per cent increase in aged offenders since 2003.
One 87-year-old offender is not due for release on parole until he is 93 years old, and could be in jail until he is aged 97.
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A report commissioned by Correctional Services, and released under the Freedom of Information Act, warns that prison units to accommodate the elderly will need comforts like larger bedrooms, carers, bigger cells and modifications like hand rails in toilets and showers.
The elderly inmates will also need luxuries such as art and music appreciation classes, better food, beading, puzzles, games, craft, pet therapy and writing groups.
The report also suggests releasing the aged to nursing homes was an option, as was inviting volunteers to help them in prison.
“If supervision of the ex-prisoners is preventing aged-care facilities from accepting people convicted of sex offending, then there may be an opportunity to be explored for non-government organisations or volunteers,’’ the report states.
The department already plans to build a six-bed high-dependency unit at Yatala which will have specialist medical facilities for seriously ill and dying inmates.
The growth in elderly inmate numbers has occurred primarily because of law changes like the statute of limitations for sex offences being extended past 1982.
Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire said he had asked for the FOI release because of information that ageing prisoners were an increasing burden on the prison system.
He said Family First made no apologies for introducing the legislation which led to the prosecution of sex offenders who preyed on their victims before 1982, and called on authorities to treat these people the same as other younger offenders.
“What this means clearly is that if you are a paedophile or an ageing sex offender you get special privileges that others don’t,’’ Mr Brokenshire said.
“Some of these people wouldn’t have been convicted if not for changing the statute of limitations so offences before 1982 could be prosecuted.
“But unless they have actual health issues, I don’t agree with them getting any special privileges and treatment, and they should all be treated equally, irrespective of their age.’’
Ten years ago, there was only one octogenarian prisoner in SA, aged 80. The oldest now are two prisoners in SA jails aged 87.
One, Severio Mittiga, is not due to be released at the earliest until he is aged 93, or 97 if he does not get early release.
Mittiga sexually abused three sisters, aged nine to 16, over a two-year period until his arrest in 2009.
After his arrest, he reoffended against one of them.
One of two 81-year-olds could have applied for release in 2014 but did not.
Another offender is aged 80, two are 82 and one 84.
Of the 71 inmates who are over retirement age, 55 are serving sex offence sentences, 11 are convicted killers, two committed weapons offences, one other offence against good order and one drug dealing.
A Correctional Services spokesman said it had to ensure humane care and management of aged prisoners.
“Port Augusta, Port Lincoln and Mt Gambier prison already have specialised dormitory style accommodation, which are larger rooms containing four beds for aged and infirm prisoners,’’ the spokesman said.
“The 26-bed high dependency unit at Yatala Labour Prison due for completion later this year will include eight beds that are purpose-built for aged, infirm and mobility impaired prisoners.
“In terms of special features, beds will meet accepted standards of the Building Code of Australia and meet objectives of the Disability Discrimination Act.
“For example, accommodation areas will be fitted with compliant showers, toilets and hand rails etc.’’
Growing octogenarian prison inmates need carers, bigger cells, hand rails in toilets and showers, says report
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