NCJ Number
107796
Journal
Research on Aging Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1987) Pages: 281-311
Date Published
1987
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Using Uniform Crime Reports statistics for 1964 and 1984, this study examines empirically the claims of rising crime rates and more serious criminality among the elderly.
Abstract
Results indicate that there have been sharp rises in elderly arrest rates for larceny-theft, driving under the influence, and other but traffic. However, elderly crime rates have fallen sharply for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, gambling, and vagrancy. At both times examined, elderly arrests were overwhelmingly for alcohol-related crimes, although the type of offense has changed somewhat. In addition, there has been a crime profile shift toward comparatively more arrests for shoplifting, especially by elderly female offenders. Despite dramatic fluctuations in arrest rates for some offenses, the proportionate criminal involvement of the elderly has remained about the same over time. When only the directionality of change is considered, the trend is toward a small decline in the criminality of the elderly across the majority of offenses studied, including serious crime. This trend held both for elderly male and female offenders. 4 tables, 11 notes, and 50 references. (Author abstract modified)