This paper reviews the literature on the elderly prisoner, defined in the majority of studies as 50 or 55 years of age. A discussion from several surveys dealing with the numbers of older adult felons is presented and the crimes that brought these older men to prison are described. Some of the characteristics of older prisoners are discussed, including lower intelligence, poor health, marital instability, and a poor employment record. Psychological problems are noted, and the effect of the length of time spent in prison on the older person's reference groups is described. The issue of age integrated versus age segregated environments is also discussed. The paper concludes with a critique of research methodology in studies of older prisoners and recommendations for more effective study. (JAC)