Crime and Victimization of the Elderly

Abstract

An introductory chapter details the demographic and social dimensions of the North American elderly population. Topics addressed are the aging of the North American population, the gender and marital status of the elderly population, and the plight of the elderly in Western society. Chapters on the elderly offender consider age as a criminological variable, offenses the elderly commit and their explanations, the processing of the elderly offender in the criminal justice system, and the elderly inmate. The concluding chapter on the elderly offender presents a tentative typology of geriatric offenders, the sentencing and punishment of the elderly offender, and the prevention of crime by the elderly. Chapters on the victimization of the elderly discuss age as a victimological variable, general patterns of elderly victimization, the cost of elderly victimization, the mistreatment of the elderly in domestic settings, and policy and planning for crimes against the elderly. Bibliography, recommended readings.