The analysis of crimes concluded in bolu heavy penalty and basis penalty court in which 65 years and older individuals are found victim or offender

Aim: Medical developments and rapidly increasing technology influence the life time positively. Prolonging lifetime causes the increase of the old age population. The number of the elderly victims and offenders is expected to increase depending on the increase in the number of elderly. In this study, it is intended to analyse the profiles of elderly defendants and victims, the qualifications of crimes in which they involved, by this means, to contribute to the prevention of new cases and unjust treatments by analysing the crimes concluded in Bolu Heavy Penalty and Basis Penalty Court in which 65 years and older individuals are found victim or offender. Material and Method: In our study the files concluded in Bolu Heavy Penalty Court and Bolu Basis Penalty Courts between the dates of 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2016 are analysed retrospectively and the case files in which 65 years and older people are found victim or offender are included. The socio-demographic features of victims and offenders, their general profiles, the qualification of crimes which they committed or were exposed, the judicial reports and laboratory survey results about them and the judgments as a result of trial are analysed and risk factors in the matter of exposure to crime or perpetration are revealed. Findings: A total of 724 cases at the age of 65 and older, 401 defendants and 323 victims, whose lawsuit process were completed and concluded between 2010-2016 are taken into the study. The average age of the defendants is found 77,43±5,95 (min:67, max:95). 346 of the defendants (%86,3) are male and 55 of the defendants (%13,7) are female. The average age of the victims is found 72,4±5,87 (min:65, max;90). 219 of the victims (%67,8) are male and 104 of the victims (%32,2) are female. It is determined that defendants commit the crime of trespass to the immovable properties which belong to the village legal entity or in joint utilization of peasants the most (n: 112, %27,9), and the crime of injury takes the second place (n:79, %19,7), the victims are exposed to the crime of injury the most (n: 76, %23,5) and this is followed by the crime of robbery (n: 38, %11,8). It is determined that the criminal capacity examination is implemented to the only three cases of 401 defendants at the age of 65 and older and the mental examination is implemented to the only one case of 323 victims (%0,3) Result: The rate of cognitive inefficiency in 65 years and older individuals is rather high. We believe that the punishment of elders whose cognitive activity is damaged can be prevented and the unjust treatments can be averted by implementing much more criminal capacity examination to the defendants at this age group. Furthermore elder individuals have much more fragile disposition both physically and psychologically in comparison with the other age groups. Therefore we believe that these victims can adapt to social life more easily provided that being made all of the 65 years and older victims to do mental examinations and then regular pursuit of them. We consider that new studies will help the protection of rapidly increasing elderly population and the inhibition of the offenses in which they involved. Key Words: Crime, the problems of elderly, 65 years and older defendants, 65 years and older victims, fight against the crime