NCJ Number
207237
Date Published
July 2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Based on data from the Idaho Crime Victimization Survey of 2003, this report identifies the types of crimes committed against the elderly (age 65 and over) in Idaho.
Abstract
The crime categories addressed in this report are property and violence offenses. Domestic violence in all its forms (emotional abuse, physical abuse, stalking/harassment, and sexual abuse) is included, along with hate crime, sexual harassment in the workplace, perceptions of safety, and satisfaction with police services. Out of the 1,265 persons age 18 and older who were surveyed between June and July 2003, 323 were age 65 or older. For the current report, the responses of this age group were analyzed separately. Regarding property crime, the elderly were disproportionately victimized by vandalism, the theft of items left outside the house, theft from items left inside vehicles, and the theft of vehicles. In the case of violent crime, the elderly respondents experienced nine times less violent crime than the general population. No elderly victimizations were reported for robbery, assault with a firearm, assault with physical force, or threats or attacks during a verbal confrontation. For the period covered by the survey, no sexual assaults or rapes were reported by the elderly. Only threats or attacks by throwing an object and threats of murder were experienced by the elderly. Although hate crimes were rare against the elderly, approximately 50 of every 1,000 elderly respondents felt vulnerable to hate crime due, in rank order, to age, race, or religion. The elderly experienced fewer incidents of domestic violence than any other age group. The elderly were slightly more fearful of being victimized by crime than the general population. 1 table and 1 figure