NCJ Number
216059
Date Published
2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents an overview of the current state of British research in the broad area of crime and older people, focusing on older offenders, particularly those in prison.
Abstract
The chapter begins with an analysis of why this issue is timely and significant, noting that only in the last two decades in the United Kingdom have criminologists shifted from viewing older people as just fearful of crime to an increasing awareness of the distinctive vulnerabilities and experiences of older people as victims of crime and as offenders. The latter circumstance has implications for the prison and probation service as well as health and social work agencies. The chapter then argues that in order to assess the current state of knowledge and research gaps in the criminal justice system's management of older offenders, there must be an integration of criminological and gerontological (study of the aging process and the problems of older people) perspectives. The author suggests that by adopting an aging and lifecourse approach, key issues for a research agenda can be identified. Such an agenda will focus on how the processes of aging and crime are related and will develop appropriate policy and practice responses. The chapter concludes with the presentation of a research agenda for theory development, policy, and practice. Topics addressed in the research agenda are the transitions of older people in and out of crime and the justice system, relying on the views of older offenders in research methods, whether older offenders should be managed as a separate group in the penal system, and what policy perspectives should be followed. 44 references