REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS The lack of family support available to many lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex prisoners and the paucity of community services available to these groups in many countries can also make their transition out of prison particularly difficult. In addition, discrimination and stigma can make it hard for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex former prisoners to find housing and employment. Prison authorities should consult with community organisations where possible, in order to gain a better understanding of the rehabilitation needs of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex prisoners.114 PROMISING PRACTICE: Sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) in Thai prisons In Thailand the concept of gender and the terms that define sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) are very fluid. Prison authorities have acknowledged the high numbers of prisoners with diverse SOGIESC in Thai male prisons115 and have taken steps to provide appropriate care and facilities for them, including in relation to rehabilitation opportunities. Recognising the complexities of allocating and separating prisoners with diverse SOGIESC, authorities have also sought to understand their particular needs and respond appropriately. dance and act. Among the contestants were ‘ladyboys’, who put on drag-style performances to showcase their artistic talents. Clothing and makeup were provided to allow them to fully express themselves. Because the contest was open to the public – with many business owners from the local entertainment industry attending – some of the contestants secured jobs as in-house performers after their release. The Chanthaburi Provincial Prison is also in the process of building a community recreational centre where different performances can be held daily. The aim is to create an outlet One example of this is Chanthaburi Provincial for prisoners with artistic talents to express Prison. With the aim of promoting the themselves in a way that suits their preferred prisoners’ talents to the community, the identity, as well as to increase public prison organised a talent show called ‘the engagement and acceptance. Chan Star’, which invited prisoners to sing, Older prisoners In many countries around the world, the number of older people in prison is growing fast.116 Despite this, most prison systems are not set up to cater for their needs. Most prisoner programmes and services are designed with younger prisoners in mind and many lack the resources to care for the needs of older prisoners. Elderly prisoners might have specific mental healthcare needs, including those related to dementia, and older women prisoners may suffer from low mood, anxiety and feelings of depression as a result of the menopause. Elderly women also have an increased risk of depression, which can be linked to bereavement or problems associated with growing old, including physical illnesses. Some research indicates that older female prisoners are more likely than older male prisoners to report serious health problems such as cardiac, degenerative and respiratory illnesses.117 Vocational training and work programmes in prison may not be relevant to most older prisoners, because many will not be looking for employment after release. Additionally, they may struggle to participate in recreational activities due to ill-health and mobility problems and they also have different needs in terms of therapy and counselling. Some prison staff view older prisoners as beyond rehabilitation and consider that it is not worth spending time helping them prepare for life after prison. Older prisoners also have specific needs in terms of preparation for release, particularly in countries where there is a lack of community support available to them. Prison programmes should be adapted to the individual needs and circumstances of older prisoners, including age- and health-related needs and length of sentence. Prison authorities can modify existing programmes to enable older prisoners to participate. Special programmes for older prisoners can also be arranged without significant additional resources. Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners | 47