Peculiarities of psycho-correction of elderly convicts in correction facilities

Knowledge of elderly convicts’ behavioural peculiarities is particularly relevant as the crime committed by people of this category has increased. Officers of correction facilities including psychology departments pay less attention to the convicts of this age group. Meanwhile the latter can create certain difficulties in educative work, their behaviour can cause violations of discipline, regime regulations in prisons, develop conflict conditions and tense atmosphere in the unit etc. Behavioural peculiarities of elderly convicts was studied in penal colony No. 1 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in Karelia. The experiment was conducted among thirty elderly convicts aged 60-75. This category of convicts shows high level of conflict inclinations (12 people), they are not motivated to avoid tense relations and seek for an optimal decision in disputes. In this regard it is necessary to carry out special work among elderly convicts to build emotional stability, develop empathy, psychological state to adequately accept various life circumstances, learn to find common language with the people around, acquire patience and self-control. It is significant to employ various forms, methods of influencing convicts and different psycho-pedagogical means in psycho-correction.