RESUMO
There is a body of knowledge about elderly crime victims, but we know little about the characteristics of elderly perpetrators, especially of homicide. The few studies that have been published are based on small samples and are somewhat dated. In an examination of homicides committed in Chicago over a 31-year period, we compared cases involving perpetrators aged over 60 years (n = 443) with those involving younger perpetrators (n = 24,066). There were a number of significant differences. Elderly killers were more likely to be White and to commit suicide afterwards. Their victims were more likely to be spouses, females, and aged over 60 years. Inter-racial homicide was more common for younger offenders. The low number of homicides involving the elderly is explained by reference to routine activity theory.
Assuntos
Homicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Pesquisa , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Chicago/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: little is known about the treatment needs of older prisoners and to what extent they are being met. SUBJECTS: representative sample of 203 sentenced prisoners aged 60 and over in 15 prisons in England and Wales. DESIGN: case notes were surveyed using a standardised proforma and information on current medication was collected. RESULTS: three-quarters of older prisoners were prescribed medication. Those with cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine health problems were prescribed medication that was mostly appropriately targeted. In contrast, only 18% of inmates with recorded psychiatric morbidity were prescribed psychotropic medication. CONCLUSIONS: reviewing the medical records of older prisoners and considering the appropriateness of their current medication regime would be a primary care intervention that could significantly improve the health of this marginalized group.