Contradictory to a common assumption in criminology, which assumes crime rates to be the lowest among senior citizens, the crime rates among the elderly share of the Japanese population is on the...Show moreContradictory to a common assumption in criminology, which assumes crime rates to be the lowest among senior citizens, the crime rates among the elderly share of the Japanese population is on the rise in recent years. This development is accompanied by a rapidly aging Japanese population. Considering the speed of this process in Japan and seeing other industrialised nations follow the aging trend, this phenomenon poses a severe threat to the economy and social security in aging societies and Japan in particular. As the number of elderly offenders is rising much faster than the total share of senior citizens in Japan, it is of crucial importance to identify potential causes for the rise of criminal offenses amongst the Japanese elderly. Analysing crime rates, demographic change, government reports and secondary literature, this study identifies potential factors that contribute to rising elderly crime rates between 1989 and 2014. As a result, this research finds that social disintegration is the most significant factor in explaining the changing crime patterns in Japan.Show less
