GENERALLY it's accepted the curve between age and crime increases to a peak in the teenage years and then decreases.

This could be for many reasons including decreasing parental controls, absence of peer influence and an increase in family and community relationships with age.

The FBI Uniform Crime Report data show 50% of all arrests for most crimes are on persons younger than 30 years.

Some crimes are physically demanding so declining physical strength and energy usually associated with ageing can make crime too dangerous or unsuccessful for oldies..

Hence their decreased involvement in crime.

This does not mean all criminal careers terminate as villains age as there is evidence to indicate specialisation increases as crooks get older.

Keep in mind there will always be some behaviours or characteristics experienced in childhood that continue to influence behaviour throughout life.

The decline in crime by oldies becomes more pronounced from their fifties due to several main factors.

There is generally an increase in self control with age and no real need to commit crimes.

Oldies have greater access to legitimate sources of material goods, credit, alcohol, sex and other crime motivators.

There is an increased expectation of maturity and responsibility associated with being an adult. and a low tolerance in society of deviant behaviour by people who are expected to know better.

An increase in the development of social relations, a search for meaning of life and exploration of their place in the scheme of things helps older people see involvement in any delinquencies of youth as childish or foolish.

But there is one variable.

There is an increase in opportunities for crimes involving gambling, fraud or theft as these are less risky, more lucrative and less physically demanding.