2026/05/11 by Tristan Russell, Samantha Jeffries, Yodsawadi Thipphayamongkoludom +3 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis #Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies #Cambodian History and Society
paper · pdf · doi:10.5204/ijcjsd.4221
openalex publication_date 2026/05/11 · openalex created_date 2026/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
This study examines the experiences of older women in Thailand before, during and after imprisonment, drawing on interviews with 18 currently or formerly imprisoned women and focus groups with 20 prison staff. Findings show that criminalisation in later life was often driven by survival, shaped by economic hardship, caregiving burdens, victimisation, and periods of instability. In prison, women faced interconnected and compounding challenges, including emotional distress, inadequate healthcare, exclusion from activities and isolation. Preparation for release was rarely age-responsive, leaving women under-resourced and insufficiently supported. Returning home depended heavily on family support, stable housing and income, none of which was guaranteed. Stigma and shame were significant barriers to older women’s ability to rebuild their lives. These findings underscore the urgent need for gendered, age-responsive reforms, building on the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules).