Crime and Elder Abuse: An Integrated Perspective Book

In the last two decades, social scientists from various disciplines have begun to pay more attention to the victimization of elderly persons. In view of the significant increase of our aging population, crime will no doubt become a forceful issue in the lives of older adults. Only through advanced understanding will policymakers, practitioners, and educators be prepared to limit the negative consequences associated with the victimization of older adults. Each chapter in this text begins with a case scenario describing an elderly person?s victimization experience and the consequences of that experience. Chapter 1 examines myths about crimes against older adults, integrating crime and abuse, and includes a summary and plan of presentation. Chapter 2 discusses the manner in which social scientists have gauged the victimization experiences of older adults and the way that certain disciplines have ignored these incidents. Chapter 3 considers in full detail the specific types of offenses that pertains to elderly persons that have become targets. Chapter 4 contemplates the specific consequences of offenses against elderly persons and compares those consequences to those experienced by younger victims. Chapter 5 offers insight into the way that the criminal justice system and other decision makers detect and respond to crimes against the elderly. Chapter 6 examines various explanations of crimes and contrasts those explanations with theories aimed at describing youthful offenses. Chapter 7 offers recommendations for future research, policy, and programs dealing with crimes against the elderly. The concluding remarks and review questions incorporated into each chapter provides invaluable insight in the need for a better understanding of this growing issue. Read More