NCJ Number
38138
Date Published
1976
Length
113 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXPLORES FACTORS INFLUENCING THE REPORTING OR FAILURE TO REPORT CRIME BY OLDER VICTIMS AND SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF REPORTING OR NOT REPORTING.
Abstract
THE REPORT SUMMARIZES INTERVIEW RESPONSES OF 466 PEOPLE BEYOND THE AGE OF 55 WHO LIVE WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF DALLAS, TEXAS. SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VICTIM REPORTERS, VICTIM NONREPORTERS, AND NONVICTIMS ARE IDENTIFIED. CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE CRIME OCCURRED AND THE SUBSEQUENT ACTION TAKEN ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM ARE DETAILED. INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRIME REPORTING OR NONREPORTING PROCESS IS PROVIDED. THE STUDY ALSO PRESENTS DATA ON THE SUBJECT'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE POLICE AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE OLDER ADULT'S PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND LAWYERS, AND THE CONTACT OF HIS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WITH THESE THREE GROUPS IS DESCRIBED, THE STUDY INVESTIGATES THE OLDER ADULT'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH HAVING BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME INFLUENCES THIS PERCEPTION. BASED ON THE FINDINGS, THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT REPORTERS OF CRIME ARE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER THEIR LIFE SITUATION AND WHO HAVE A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. NONREPORTERS APPEAR TO BE MORE WITHDRAWN FROM THE SYSTEM AND MORE ISOLATED FROM THE SOCIETY AROUND THEM. CITIZENS IN THIS STUDY SEEM TO RESPECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE CONSCIENTIOUSLY PERFORMING THEIR JOBS, DESPITE THE RESTRICTIONS UNDER WHICH THEY OPERATE. IT IS NOTED THAT INFORMING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE SUBJECTS' FEELINGS ABOUT THE NEED FOR IMPROVED POLICE-COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION MIGHT RESULT IN THE MORE EFFICIENT HANDLING OF CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, STATISTICAL TABLES, AND THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT ARE APPENDED.