NCJ Number
65087
Date Published
1979
Length
276 pages
Annotation
THE IMPACT OF FOUR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND TO ASSIST VICTIMS IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
PROJECTS' GOALS WERE PROGRAM VISIBILITY, EDUCATION, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, NEIGHBORHOOD STRENGTHENING, AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE. THE PROJECTS WERE CONDUCTED BY A CONSORTIUM OF EIGHT GROUPS AND WERE FUNDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION STARTING IN THE SPRING OF 1977. THE EVALUATED PROGRAMS WERE LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY, MILWAUKEE, NEW ORLEANS, AND LOS ANGELES. ADDITIONAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WERE CONDUCTED IN CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON, D.C. THE EVALUATION WAS BASED ON TWO TELEPHONE SURVEYS OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION LIVING IN THE TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS AND ONE SURVEY OF ACTUAL VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY THE LOCAL PROGRAMS. THE EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED FROM THE FALL OF 1977 TO THE FALL OF 1978. RESULTS INDICATED THAT EFFORTS AT PROGRAM VISIBILITY HAD MODERATE SUCCESS. TELEVISION APPEARED TO BE THE BEST MEANS OF DISSEMINATING INFORMATION. THE ELDERLY IN THE TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS INCREASED THEIR USE OF HOME SECURITY MEASURES. NEIGHBORHOOD STRENGTHENING EFFORTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE THEY WERE POORLY ORGANIZED AND SLOW TO DEVELOP. VICTIM ASSISTANCE EFFORTS PRODUCED A GENERALLY FAVORABLE IMPRESSION ON THEIR CLIENTS, ALTHOUGH MANY VICTIMS DESIRED FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL AID BEYOND THE SCOPE OF MOST PROGRAMS. THE IMPACT EVALUATION FINDINGS WERE CONSISTENT WITH PROCESS EVALUATION FINDINGS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT WELL ORGANIZED LOCAL PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITIES. RESULTS SUGGESTED THAT ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE WORTHWHILE, BUT THAT GREAT CARE MUST BE USED IN CHOOSING ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFF TO RUN THEM. FOOTNOTES, EXTENSIVE TABLES, AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING STUDY INSTRUMENTS AND A STUDY OF CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE INCLUDED. APPROXIMATELY 25 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (CFW)