Management and Care of Older Offenders with Mental Illness (OOMI) in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The proportion of older adults over 50 entering the criminal justice system as offenders has been rising for over a decade, making this group the fastest-growing inmate population in the United States. Without proper training in relation to specific challenges and needs as pertaining to this group—including a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse, trauma, and mental health problems, as well as major neurocognitive disorders (e.g., dementia)—encounters between criminal justice actors and older offenders could result in detainment, injury, or even death. Given the vulnerability of older adults for a myriad of reasons including unique physical, psychological, social, and gerontological needs, the provision of trauma-informed and cross-disciplinary treatment services in both community and institutionalized settings is critical for more effective outcomes.