This article provides the first comprehensive examination of the phenomenon of unequal access to procedural justice for older victims of crime. It analyses quantitative and qualitative data exploring the interactions of older people with the criminal justice system of Northern Ireland. It identifies that older victims of crime are less likely to have a successful crime outcome (known as ‘detection’ or ‘clear-up’ in other jurisdictions) to their case when compared to other adults. The results provide evidence of a system failing to adequately take into account additional vulnerabilities that disproportionately impact on older victims’ ability to engage with the justice process. There is an analysis of the relationships between vulnerability, resilience and access to justice. The current conceptual understanding of vulnerability as applied to older people within the justice system is challenged. The findings are relevant for researchers and policy-makers in the United Kingdom, Ireland and further afield concerned with the treatment of older and vulnerable victims by the justice system.

中文翻译：

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年长的犯罪受害者

本文首次全面审视了老年犯罪受害者无法平等获得程序正义的现象。它分析定量和定性数据，探索老年人与北爱尔兰刑事司法系统的相互作用。它指出，与其他成年人相比，年长的犯罪受害者不太可能获得成功的犯罪结果（在其他司法管辖区称为“侦查”或“清理”）。结果证明系统未能充分考虑额外的脆弱性，这些脆弱性对老年受害者参与司法程序的能力产生了不成比例的影响。分析了脆弱性、复原力和诉诸司法的机会之间的关系。目前对适用于司法系统中老年人的脆弱性的概念性理解受到挑战。研究结果与英国、爱尔兰和其他领域的研究人员和政策制定者相关，这些领域涉及司法系统对老年和弱势受害者的待遇。