Trends and patterns in offending by older persons between 1972-1981 are examined that show that, while arrests of the elderly have declined overall, the percentage of elderly arrests for index crime is increasing. A comparison of first-time and career, older offenders suggests that offense seriousness increases following retirement. The influence of cultural values in organized crime is examined with respect to the role of aging and the aged within crime families. Two studies examine case disposition and sanctioning as a functioning of age, finding greater leniency accorded to elderly offenders. Problems in devising appropriate sanctions and/or treatments for elderly child molestors also are outlined. Demographic, social, and offense characteristics of elderly probationers and elderly mentally ill jail inmates are profiled. The positive effects of relocating older inmates from a large, age-integrated prison environment to a smaller, age-segregated facility are described. Health issues in the management of elderly inmates also are considered. Finally, changes in the characteristics of the elderly inmate population in New Jersey between 1970 and 1986 are discussed; and increase in this population are projected for 1990. Article figures, tables, notes, and references. See NCJ-116767 through NCJ-116774 for individual articles.