Results indicate that there have been sharp rises in elderly arrest rates for larceny-theft, driving under the influence, and other but traffic. However, elderly crime rates have fallen sharply for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, gambling, and vagrancy. At both times examined, elderly arrests were overwhelmingly for alcohol-related crimes, although the type of offense has changed somewhat. In addition, there has been a crime profile shift toward comparatively more arrests for shoplifting, especially by elderly female offenders. Despite dramatic fluctuations in arrest rates for some offenses, the proportionate criminal involvement of the elderly has remained about the same over time. When only the directionality of change is considered, the trend is toward a small decline in the criminality of the elderly across the majority of offenses studied, including serious crime. This trend held both for elderly male and female offenders. 4 tables, 11 notes, and 50 references. (Author abstract modified)