NCJ Number
130195
Journal
Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 317-327
Date Published
1991
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's supplementary homicide reports (SHR) for 1976-1985 were used to compare patterns and rates of homicide among the elderly and younger populations.
Abstract
The elderly were the least at risk for homicide generally, as has been reported for other crimes. Blacks in all age groups were at greater risk than whites as homicide victims. The rate of victimization for both groups declined with age. When elderly individuals were killed, they were more likely than younger homicide victims to be killed by a stranger; elderly persons were less likely to be killed by friends and acquaintances. The rate of elder homicide was 4.49 per 100,000 persons aged 65 or older, a figure substantially lower than the homicide rate of 10.87 per 100,000 persons aged 12 through 64. The elderly were 60 percent less likely than younger persons to be robbed, but, if robbed, the elderly were 3.36 times more likely to die as a result. The results, which are consistent with results obtained in earlier studies suggesting that elders are less at risk than other age groups for crimes of violence, do not seem to justify the elderly's fear of victimization. 3 figures, 4 tables, and 16 references (Author abstract modified)