NCJ Number
205212
Journal
Sociological Inquiry Volume: 74 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 2-19
Date Published
February 2004
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This document discusses the factors that influence the murder of elerly persons.
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the influence of situational and cultural factors associated with homicide of the elderly, controlling for those structural factors consistently found to be related to homicide in general. It has been noted that Southern culture promotes a notion that one should “respect their elders.” Using conservative Protestant affiliation as a proxy for Southern culture, the study examined the relationship between Southern culture and homicide of the elderly. The dependent variable used in this study was the 1989 to 1991 sum of homicide victimizations of persons aged 65 and older. The study also attempted to reconcile the seemingly disparate findings of previous studies as to the victim/offender relationships associated with elderly homicide. The findings suggested that homicide of the elderly was more likely to occur in counties -- particularly urban ones -- where the influence of Southern culture was greater, coupled with the lack of a social control offered by religion generally. The overall lower levels of religious affiliation was evidence of weakened boundaries on behavior in a cultural setting that is more tolerant of violence in particular situations. Given the extent to which robbery is a key motive/circumstance, it was not surprising that the relationship between the robbery rate and elderly homicide was positive and significant across all models tested. The analyses suggested that when robbery was compared with specific age distribution variables that reflect the presence (or lack thereof) of potential offenders, victims, and guardians, the former was more relevant. It appears that risk of victimization is related to increased vulnerability associated with old age. 2 tables, 3 endnotes, 74 references