Looking at Retirement

Here's an interesting question that one of our members wanted to see addressed in the DWC Newsletter.  Thanks to Natalie Sokoloff, William Blount, Roz Muraskin and Barbara Raffel Price for their contributions!

If you have insights or comments you would like to add, please send them to Susan Sharp (sssharp@ou.edu) for the next issue of DivisioNews.

So many of us are facing retirement in the next 5 years I was wondering if people could send in comments on how they (or others they know about) are looking to use their skills in retirement.

Susan Sharp

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Responses:

I'd love to read the responses - this is a tough question - one I am presently wrestling with. Well I guess retirement is something to be contended with, but not yet  --- they may find me at my desk passed out (only kidding).  I am hoping to continue writing and speaking out on issues in the community on criminal justice issues.  I hope also to be able to be a mentor to future Ph.D.'s and academics, as well as to perhaps be a consultant on issues that deal with women and justice.  

My mentor who is now 93 years young, has cut down writing to only 3-4 books and articles a year.  I hope that my mind stays clear and that I am able to continue to read and write.  My grandfather studied into his 90s, learning something new each day, and going to the library.  He was not one for cards, or shuffle board, or other games.  I guess he is my model and I hope to be able to physically continue doing as I am now.

It's a great time to write that book you haven't had time to even think about while working. Ditto articles. Communities are always in need of volunteers and ones with specific knowledge and experience are especially needed.  You can apply your criminological experiences to a wide array of criminal justice agencies in your community. Once you become known in the local criminal justice scene, you may be asked to serve on governing boards or on blue ribbon panels when communities tackle difficult or controversial local issues (e.g. to build a new jail or rent space in a neighboring county). Writing letters to the editor of your local paper is another way to get ‘expert' opinions out there in the community by weighing in on issues.  And you can register with a national service that connects lawyers with experts in various fields - this can lead to writing opinions or to testifying in court as an expert witness (for a fee).