Responding to Older Offenders: Age Selectivity in the Processing of Shoplifters

Abstract

This article examines the effect of the offender's age upon private and public responses to shoplifting offenses at a number of key decision points in the criminaljustice process. After briefly reviewing prior empirical research findings about the effect of suspect 's age upon witness and victim decisions to pursue redressive action against shoplifters, the article examines age selectivity at the prosecutorial stage in the criminal justice process. Using crosstabular analysis with simple elaboration techniques, the authors examine the decision to dismiss or prosecute charged shoplifting offenses across a trichotomous age classification. The findings demonstrate empirically that prosecutors selectively enforce legal norms against shoplifting, and that offender's age is a consideration in such decisions. Older shoplifters are found to be prosecuted less often than adults in the middle of the age distribution, but no less often than younger shoplifters. The implications ofthesefindingsfor the exercise ofprosecutorial discretion, public policy and program development, and common perceptions about the criminality of older citizens are highlighted in the conclusion.