NCJ Number
39069
Date Published
1976
Length
356 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM RESEARCH, BEGUN IN JULY, 1975, ON VICTIMIZATION AND FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION AMONG PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 60 TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN CRIME PREVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE FOR OLDER PERSONS.
Abstract
PURPOSES OF THIS MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON STUDY INCLUDED ASSESSING THE RATE OF VICTIMIZATION AMONG PERSONS OVER 60, DETERMINING THE TYPES OF CRIME MOST PREVALENT AMONG SUCH VICTIMS, AND PROJECTING CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DISTINGUISH OLDER VICTIMS FROM NON-VICTIMS. OTHER OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH CAN BE SUMMARIZED TO INCLUDE DETERMINING THE ATTITUDE OF OLDER PERSONS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DISCERNING THE COGNITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM BY THE OLDER ADULT. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROJECT GOALS, THE RESEARCH STAFF EMPLOYED THE METHOD OF RANDOM SAMPLING, REVIEWED POLICE RECORDS OF VICTIMS, OBSERVED HIGH CRIME AREAS, AND STUDIED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF THE AREAS. TABLES CONTAINING STATISTICAL DATA AND REPRODUCTIONS OF QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE STUDY APPEAR IN THE TEXT. THOUGH IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT PERSONS OVER 60 ARE NOT NECESSARILY VICTIMIZED BY CRIME IN GENERAL MORE THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS, THEY ARE OFTEN MORE PRONE TO VICTIMIZATION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME (BURGLARY, PURSE-SNATCHING, AND CONSUMER FRAUD). THE RESEARCH ALSO REVEALED THAT OLDER PERSONS OFTEN HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS OF FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION, WHICH, WHEN COMBINED WITH PROBLEMS INHERENT TO THE AGING PROCESS, MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES. IT WAS FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT VICTIMS OF CRIME OVER THE AGE OF 60 OFTEN SUFFER MORE SEVERLY THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS. DUE TO ECONOMICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL VULNERABILITIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...KAP