Centre for Policy on Ageing



Aged and dangerous — old-age forensic medicine
Author(s)	Graeme Yorston
Journal title	The British Journal of Psychiatry, vol 174, March 1999
Pages	pp 193-195
Keywords	Age groups [elderly] ; Offenders ; Psychiatric treatment ; Literature reviews.
Annotation	Older people are far more commonly the victims of aggression and antisocial behaviour than the perpetrators. However, a small minority of older men and women do commit crimes; yet offending by the elderly is an under-researched area, and few specialist old-age forensic psychiatrist services exist. This editorial points to relevant references concerning stages in the criminal justice system; the nature of offences committed (sex offences, shop-lifting and homicide); and diagnoses which may be associated with offending (dementia, schizophrenia, depression, alcohol, and personality disorder). The author suggests that the concept of dangerousness referred to in the title is rather outmoded. Rather, we should be encouraged to think in terms of risk - likely to be quite low for older people, if violent offences are considered. If mentally ill offenders' problems are to be understood and treated appropriately, then more dialogue is needed between old-age and forensic psychiatrists. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990310001 A
Classmark	BB: TGC: LP: 64A
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.