Based on research conducted in the California prison system, the study compares the social, demographic, criminal, and sentencing characteristics of older inmates, 50 and older, to the rest of the inmate population. As suggested by the literature, older convicts were more likely to be white and sentenced for crimes of violence. Contrary to what was expected, older inmates reported about the same levels of education attainment as other inmates and higher levels of occupational attainment than the general population. A review of the records of 50 older inmates supported the literature suggestions that there are 2 distinct types of older inmates: first versus multiply incarcerated offenders. A rough typology is presented and case studies are included. (Author abstract)