NCJ Number
43669
Date Published
1977
Length
98 pages
Annotation
THIS TRANSCRIPT OF A FACTFINDING HEARING INCLUDES FORMAL TESTIMONY FROM STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, SUBMITTED STATISTICS, AND PERSONAL STORIES TOLD BY ELDERLY PERSONS WHO HAD BEEN VICTIMIZED.
Abstract
AN OPENING STATEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCED SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY. THESE INCLUDE MANDATORY SENTENCING FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY, A LOWER AGE AT WHICH JUVENILES CAN BE PROSECUTED AS ADULTS, RESTORATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, FUNDS TO CITIES TO REHIRE LAID-OFF POLICE OFFICERS, AND GREATER FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS. SEVERAL SPEAKERS POINTED OUT THAT IN NEW YORK TWO TRENDS ARE APPARENT WHICH ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE; ONE, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF POOR ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SLUMS AND, TWO, A RISING NUMBER OF UNSUPERVISED JUVENILES WITH WORKING PARENT(S) AND WHO CANNOT FIND JOBS. MOST CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY IS COMMITTED BY THE POOR AGAINST THE POOR IN DARK HALLWAYS OR STREETS. MANY OF THESE CRIMES ARE NOT REPORTED SO EXACT FIGURES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN, BUT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IN NEW YORK ROBBERIES OF SENIOR CITIZENS NOW NUMBER MORE THAN 18,000 PER YEAR. OF THESE, ABOUT ONE-FOURTH ARE REPORTED. DURING 1975, THE NUMBER OF SENIOR CITIZENS MURDERED IN NEW YORK STATE TOTALED 201, WITH 11 PERCENT IN NEW YORK CITY. MORE THAN HALF WERE KILLED IN THE COURSE OF ROBBERIES, SEX CRIMES, ARSON, AND OTHER FELONIES. A MAJORITY OF THESE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED BY JUVENILES. THE FIGURES SHOW THAT ONLY 2 PERCENT OF THESE JUVENILES ARE EVER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO A JUVENILE FACILITY. INTERVIEWS WITH THE OFFENDERS THEMSELVES REVEAL THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE LITTLE TO FEAR WHEN THEY ATTACK AN ELDERLY PERSON. SEVERAL SPEAKERS CALL FOR MANDATORY SENTENCING FOR THOSE WHO ATTACK A PERSON OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE AND FOR LOWERING TO 13 THE AGE AT WHICH AN OFFENDER CAN BE PROSECUTED AS AN ADULT.