GEROCRIM – The convergence between gerontology and criminology

The GEROCRIM project advances research at the intersection of gerontological and criminological sciences. Despite growing evidence that Europe’s ageing population presents distinct and pressing challenges in terms of crime—from the rise in older offenders and victims to significant age-related criminal justice policy gaps—geronto-criminology remains an undeveloped and unrecognized field of study. Scientific engagement from both gerontology and criminology has been lagging behind, leaving a critical gap in understanding the complex interplay between ageing and crime or criminal justice. GEROCRIM responds to this gap by advancing this emerging, interdisciplinary field of inquiry—one rooted in research convergence and driven by socially engaged scholarship. With this start-up bonus, we aim to: (1) establish a dedicated geronto-criminological hub; (2) develop, and raise the visibility and accessibility of, novel and existing geronto-criminological knowledge; and (3) develop a knowledge framework to guide (future) research in this field. This will lay a solid foundation for an internationally recognized field of research that connects ageing with crime and advances the criminological study of ageing, with a particular focus on Europe.