NCJ Number
61897
Date Published
1976
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE INCIDENCE AND EFFECTS OF CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST OLDER ADULTS ARE DESCRIBED. THE ARTICLE ALSO DISCUSSES CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR ELDERLY AND RECOMMENDS AREAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH.
Abstract
RECENT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PERSONS OVER 60 ARE NOT MORE PREVALENT THAN CRIMES AGAINST YOUNGER PERSONS AS WAS PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED; HOWEVER, STREET CRIME AND FRAUD DO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE ELDERLY. DETAILS GIVEN CONCERNING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY VICTIMS SHOW THAT LOW INCOME, PHYSICAL INCAPACITY, SOLITARY LIVING CONDITIONS, AND FEAR DO NOT INCREASE THE OLDER CITIZEN'S VULNERABILITY TO CRIME. THE DEGREE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION, HOWEVER, IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF FEAR. ALTHOUGH MOST OLDER ADULTS ARE STRONG SUPPORTERS OF THE POLICE AND HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF REPORTING CRIME THAN OTHER GROUPS, STILL REPORTING BY THE ELDERLY IS STILL FAR FROM COMPLETE. LITTLE RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY OLDER CRIME VICTIMS, BUT STUDIES INDICATE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS SUFFER GREATER AND LONGER LASTING TRAUMA THAN OTHER GROUPS. PROGRAMS WHICH TRY TO EDUCATE THE ELDERLY IN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, INCREASE THEIR RAPPORT WITH THE POLICE, AND ASSIST VICTIMS ARE DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOULD ASSESS THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON THE ELDERLY, AND PROGRAMS SHOULD VIEW SENIOR CITIZENS IN RELATION TO THE COMUNITY AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED. (MJM)