This book provides a comprehensive analysis of interactions between older people and the criminal justice system. The editors present current research on elders in a multitude of roles, from victim and offender to attorney, defendant, witness, juror, and prisoner. Of particular interest are chapters on the psychological and medical conditions of elder prisoners, and issue around selective decarceration. Each contributor documents empirical data and identifies social, policy, and ethical implications, where applicable. Recommended for gerontologists, sociologists, social workers, and professionals in the legal and criminal justice fields.

Law Enforcement, Policing, & Security

This comprehensive text critically examines the experience of older people, from western and non-western cultures, as both victims and perpetrators of crime. An argument is presented emphasising issues of human rights and free will.

This textbook focuses on the criminality and victimization of the elderly population. It provides a global perspective on the extent of the elderly crime and victimization, with international comparisons for addressing the problem. It explores the extent and types of crimes committed by the elderly, the characteristics of older criminals, and the responses of the criminal justice system (including prisons and institutions) to elderly criminals, including: diversion programs, community-based treatment programs, and special programs including health & mental health care services for older prisoners. The second part of the book covers victimization of the elderly. Research findings show that certain crimes including fraud, theft, and certain types of financial crimes disproportionately affect older people, and these types of crimes are growing in prevalence. This work explores the characteristics of older victims and the types of crimes that affect them. Finally, the book presents comparative international research on approaches to crime prevention, education, and legislation to address the victimization of the elderly. This work will be of interest to students in criminology and criminal justice, as well as related fields such as sociology, and gerontology.

Crime and Victimization of the Elderly provides a "state-of-the-art" review of the social scientific literature relating to the crime problems of older persons. Building upon a broad interdisciplinary base, the volume addresses a wide range of issues that will prove to be of interest and value to criminology and gerontology students and to practicing professionals. The book is divided into two major sections. The first focuses upon elderly offenders and the second is devoted to a discussion of elderly victims. All of the major topics normally covered in the criminology and victimology courses are given detailed consideration. These include: the nature and types of crimes committed by the elderly, theories of elderly crime, criminal justice reactions to the older offender, patterns of elderly victimization, explanations of elderly victimization patterns, fear of crime among older persons and the abuse of the elderly in domestic settings. The chapters provide a critical assessment of the formative as well as the most recent empirical research conducted in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Each chapter includes lists of suggested readings and each major section includes an extensive list of bibliographic references. This book is an invaluable resource to criminologists, gerontologists and social service professionals as it raises questions and defines issues vital to an understanding of the elderly and their association with various aspects of crime.

For baby boomers, senior citizens, gerontologists, and students of aging and the justice system, Howard Eglit's trenchant discussion of the intersection of aging Americans with the U.S. legal system illuminates the consequences of a pervasive bias in contemporary society. America's ballooning older population is well documented. Couple this demographic tidal wave with the legal system, Eglit says, and the inescapable conclusion follows that the matrix of laws, regulations, judicial rulings, and governmental policy issues will affect more and more older people. Were age an innocuous factor in society, this proposition would merit little note. But, he says, "The fact is that age matters. And often negatively so." It matters in the ways that young jurors assess the credibility of older litigants and witnesses. It matters for fashioning the attitudes that older jurors bring into the jury room. It matters for attorneys who deal with older clients and for judges, lawyers, and jurors who must respond to older lawyers. Embedded in American culture, age bias generally works to the detriment of older men and women, and this is dramatically true for individuals caught up in the legal system. Elders on Trial examines the role that age plays in the legal process; more than that, it offers solutions and guides for mitigating the myriad negative aspects of that role. With its concern for human interactions and responses, rather than matters of infrastructure or formal legislative enterprise, the book offers a timely consideration of an urgent challenge faced by American society.

Imagine a system of justice in this country that strips its citizens of their Constitutional rights, voids their existing legal documents, gives others the right to spend their money and sell their assets, isolates them, and has the ability to limit the time they can spend with their loved ones. While you may be thinking of the criminal justice system, the previous description refers to a parallel system that preys on the elderly and is determined to deem them unable to care for themselves. It is a system that allows those in control to take full advantage of their “wards of the state”—legally and under the watchful eyes of judges. It is called guardianship. Guardianship exists in every state, and while it has gone under the radar for many decades, Dr. Sam Sugar’s new book, Guardianships and the Elderly, sheds light on this system, which enables those in-the-know to commit “the perfect crime.” Dr. Sugar, a licensed physician and president of the Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship (AAAPG), as well as a victim of the system himself, has written a unique guide that can be used by anyone caught up in the world of guardianship. The book begins by looking at the history of guardianship—from ancient times till today. It then provides a clear overview of how this system is set up to work—from the triggers that set it off to the different groups of people that make up the process: the judges, the guardians, and all their associates. The book goes on to detail the responsibilities given to these players and describes how easily they can manipulate the system to their own advantage. It also presents an accurate picture of just how difficult it is to free a family member from the system. There are things loved ones can do to fight the system, to be sure, but many obstacles and pitfalls await them in the battle. This book is meant to prepare the reader for these eventualities and includes a comprehensive glossary, a helpful resource section, and a number of documents that may prove useful in the pursuit of real justice. While the press has exposed some of the most heinous crimes committed by guardians, for the most part, those who know how to work the system continue to plunder their victims’ estates. Guardianships and the Elderly is designed to explain the guardianship process clearly and make the reader aware of the common violations carried out by court insiders and their affiliates. The information found in this book can serve as a powerful tool when it comes to uncovering their crimes.

The proportion of the aged in society today is greater than ever before and growing faster than any other segment of the population. Law enforcement officers are increasingly called upon to manage the needs of the older population they serve. Elder Crimes, Elder Justice addresses all of the special needs of older people and gives the law enforcement officer the confidence that is needed to understand the aging process, communicate effectively with older people, understand the fears of older people, develop effective crime prevention strategies, and respond effectively to the older perpetrator. This book offers insights into the special considerations of the growing elderly population and teaches how to handle day-to-day interactions astutely and empathetically, resulting in a positive outcome for the law enforcement official, for the older person, and for the community. Key Features: -Topics include crime and the older adult; the criminal victimization of older adults; communicating with and interviewing the elderly crime victim; crime specific issues facing the older population; and the older adult as perpetrator. -Each chapter contains multiple case studies. These case studies prompt the reader to think about what they might do if they encounter a similar situation in the field. -Includes Communication Tips throughout to remind the reader of communication issues and how to communicate properly with older adults. -Includes Attitude Tips throughout that demonstrate to the reader how to appropriately handle issues involving older adults