Reference no: EM132691420
The Elderly in the Criminal Justice System
Getting Started
As our population in America ages, we will have to make changes to the procedures we use as criminal justice professionals to accommodate the special needs of the elderly.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
• Describe the unique needs of the elderly in the criminal justice system, including their roles as victims, witnesses, defendants and inmates.
Resources
• Textbook: Collective, C. J., Prior, S., & Jones, L. (2018). Investigating difference: human and cultural relations in criminal justice (3rd ed.). Pearson.
Background Information
The population in America is trending more toward being elderly because the large population of baby boomers is now reaching old age and many young people are postponing marriage and childbearing. As a result, older adults are being victimized more frequently. Our jails and prisons are also having to deal with inmates who are older and may require more specialized care than younger inmates. These dynamics combine to mean that the criminal justice system has to adjust to new ways of coping with issues that are unique to the elderly.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Read Chapters 18-20 in our textbook and respond to the following:
a. Discuss victimization patterns of the elderly and the special challenges faced by the criminal justice system in dealing with elderly victims and defendants. Give examples to illustrate your points.
3. Please defend your answer and be substantive in your response..