NCJ Number
216056
Editor(s)
Azrini Wahidin,
Maureen Cain
Date Published
2006
Length
295 pages
Annotation
Authorities in the fields of criminology, gerontology (study of the elderly), sociology, and social policy present 15 chapters on the victimization, crime, and criminal justice system management of older people, with attention to the United Kingdom.
Abstract
The first three chapters suggest directions for criminology in research on older victims and offenders. They emphasize criminology's challenge to identify the diverse characteristics of the elderly population in general and elderly crime victims and offenders in particular. Also discussed is the importance of interdisciplinary alliances, particularly between criminology and sociology, in conducting research on older persons. The fourth chapter presents an overview of the current state of research in the broad area of crime and older people, particularly older offenders in prison, and then proposes a research agenda. Six chapters address various aspects of the victimization of elderly people. The issues discussed include abuse and neglect of elderly residents of nursing homes in Germany and the importance of staff training in reducing the abuse of elderly residents of institutions. Another chapter focuses on elderly people as targets for "distraction burglary," which involves burglars' use of trickery and deceit of housing residents in order to gain entrance for the purpose of stealing items or cash from the house. Other chapters focus on the causes of and ways to reduce fear of crime among older people, local strategies for reducing the victimization of elderly people in the United Kingdom, and global developments in the recognition of and responses to elder abuse. Three chapters discuss how to tailor prison programs, policies, and facilities to older inmates, with attention to healthcare, opportunities for purposeful living in prison, and preparation for resettlement in the community following release. Other chapters address community-based corrections for older offenders and the British Government's policy toward elderly citizens and offenders. Chapter references and a subject index