NCJ Number
50591
Date Published
1978
Length
87 pages
Annotation
RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY IS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN IDENTIFYING CAUSES OF THIS CRIME, INDICATING SOLUTIONS, AND PRODUCING VIABLE POLICY IMPLICATIONS.
Abstract
FOUR WITNESSES TESTIFY IN THESE HEARINGS INCLUDING SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SOCIOLOGY, AND GERONTOLOGY. OPENING STATEMENTS DISCUSS THE FEAR OF CRIME AMONG THE ELDERLY THAT FORCES THEM TO BECOME RECLUSES, THE RELATIONSHIP OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, AND SEVERAL BILLS IN FORMULATION AIMED AT COMPENSATING ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS AND INCREASING RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM. INFLUENCES ON THE OUTCOME OF RESEARCH FINDINGS, DIFFICULTIES IN INTERPRETATION OF STATISTICS ON ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS, AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN RELATION TO VICTIMIZATION ARE SUBJECTS CONSIDERED BY THE WITNESSES. IT IS PROPOSED THAT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH BEING DONE TO DEAL WITH CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY ARE NOT EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE BROAD SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED AND SPORADIC LOCAL PROGRAMS ARE NOT COORDINATED ON A LARGER BASIS. THE DEFINITION OF VICTIMOLOGY IS PRESENTED BY ONE WITNESS ALONG WITH DISCUSSION ON THE DIFFERENT USES THAT CAN BE MADE OF STATISTICS, THE INADEQUACY OF MUCH SURVEY DATA, AND VARYING METHODS OF RESEARCH. ONE OF THE FINDINGS OF VARIOUS SURVEYS IS THAT MANY ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS DO NOT REPORT CRIMES, EITHER BECAUSE OF FEAR OF REPRISAL OR BECAUSE THE BUREAUCRACY INVOLVED IN LITIGATION IS TOO COMPLICATED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN COPIES OF THE PREPARED STATEMENTS. (DAG)