NCJ Number
113905
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 187-199
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Data from 1964 to 1985 formed the basis of an empirical test of a model showing the factors that significantly affect criminal homicide arrest rate patterns in the United States for elderly criminals aged 65 and older.
Abstract
The model used a recursive system of equations while including variables concerning the quantity and quality of law enforcement activity, the application of punishments via imprisonment and execution, and the controlling of socioeconomic variables that are age-specific to the elderly group. The statistical results appeared to confirm that even elderly offenders respond to incentive and disincentive mechanisms modeled for younger offenders or in more general studies concerning crime or homicide. Thus, changes in commonly selected economic, demographic, law enforcement, and punishment variables are significantly correlated with elderly criminal homicide arrest rates in a manner consistent with implications from general theoretical models of criminal behavior and with frameworks specifically dealing with criminal homicide. Tables, appended list of variables and their data sources, and 16 references. (Author abstract modified)