NCJ Number
60646
Date Published
1979
Length
38 pages
Annotation
IN THIS 1979 ANNUAL UPDATING OF FLORIDA'S PLAN TO REDUCE CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, 20 PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE PRESENTED, FOLLOWED BY AN UPDATED DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE FLORIDA ELDERLY POPULATION.
Abstract
IN 1977 THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE APPROVED CHAPTER 77-315, LAWS OF FLORIDA, WHICH DIRECTED THE ANNUAL PREPARATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNED TO IMPACT ON CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY. THE 1979 REPORT INCLUDES 20 PRIORITIES, PROBLEM STATEMENTS, AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES WHICH THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON CRIME AND THE ELDERLY, AND THE STAFF OF THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, HAVE DESIGNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THESE PRIORITIES SHOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THE TOP PRIORITY IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISCRETIONARY FUND FOR PROJECTS TARGETED AT REDUCING CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY, SINCE NO APPROPRIATIONS WERE MADE BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO FUND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH PROGRAMS. THE FUND WILL BE PRIMARILY FOR PILOT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WITH A MONITORING AND EVALUATION COMPONENT. SINCE CURRENT CRIME PREVENTION DATA SHOW THAT ONLY A FEW EXISTING CITIZEN CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE ELDERLY, A SECOND PRIORITY INVOLVES ESTABLISHING CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS DURING 1979-80, SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS, TEEN PATROLS, ESCORT SERVICES, AND TELEPHONE REASSURANCE. A PROFILE OF THE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND GEORGAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELDERLY IN FLORIDA IS PROVIDED, INCLUDING TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA. (RCB)