NCJ Number
44338
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
AN ARGUMENT IS SET FORTH FOR THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF THE ELDERLY AGAINST VICTIMIZATION THROUGH LEGISLATION.
Abstract
THE ELDERLY RARELY BEHAVE AS PREDATORS AND AGGRESSORS AND OUGHT NOT TO BE THE VICTIMS OF SUCH BEHAVIOR. CRIMINAL CODES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE REFORMULATED TO AFFORD AS MUCH PROTECTION AS POSSIBLE TO THE ELDERLY. AS STATES MOVE AWAY FROM INDETERMINATE SENTENCING, ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID IN SENTENCING EQUATIONS TO THE NATURE OF THE VICTIM IN A GIVEN OFFENSE. LEGISLATURES SHOULD INSIST THAT IF THE VICTIM OF AN OFFENSE IS OVER A GIVEN AGE -- PROBABLY 70 -- THE OFFENSE CARRY THE STIFFEST OF THE SENTENCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. OFFENSES SUCH AS PURSE SNATCHING, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY COMMITTED AGAINST OLDER PERSONS, SHOULD CARRY HEAVIER PENALITIES THAN OTHER THEFTS OF SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF MONEY. THE AIM OF SUCH REFORMS SHOULD BE TO DETER OFFENDERS FROM PREYING UPON OLDER PERSONS AND TO LABEL EXPLICITLY CRIMINALS WHO DELIBERATELY SET OUT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ELDERLY. THE SENIOR CITIZENS ROBBERY UNIT, FORMED BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE BRONX, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MANNER IN WHICH POLICE CAN ASSIST ELDERLY VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ENCOURAGE THE REPORTING OF CRIME. THE ELDERLY PERSON'S SPECIAL VULNERABILITY TO CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND TO FRAUD SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.