NCJ Number
81240
Date Published
Unknown
Length
43 pages
Annotation
This paper describes and exemplifies the use of a model of decisionmaking designed to guide choices about the conditions under which it is more appropriate to choose policies that are generally age-based; need-entitled, age-based; or age-irrelevant.
Abstract
The model is depicted as a multistage 'decision tree.' At each stage there is a question which can be tentatively answered yes or no. The first question asks whether or not the social problem under consideration is of special concern to the elderly in general or for elderly subgroups in particular. If the answer is 'no,' the decision is to consider an age-irrelevant, need-based approach. If the answer is 'yes' for the elderly in general or for specific subgroups among the elderly, additional questions are to be answered. The social problem used to illustrate the use of the model is criminal victimization. Criteria are given for answering each question on the decision tree, using the problem of criminal victimization as the case study. Data employed from various sources, including Census Bureau statistics, are used in the study. The concept of 'crimes against the elderly' is broken down into components to examine what it is about criminal victimization of the elderly that is special: rates, economic consequences, physical consequences, and fear. Findings indicate that the problem of the elderly that is 'special' is fear. Age-irrelevant policies may most usefully tackle the problem. With other social problems and under other conditions, age-irrelevant policies may well be inappropriate. In the future, debates about age-based versus age-irrelevant policies will be most helpful if they are specific to particular policy areas rather than to policies in general. Tables and 27 references are appended.