URBAN ELDERLY - ENVIRONMENTS OF FEAR (FROM CRIME AND THE ELDERLY - CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE, 1976 BY JACK GOLDSMITH AND SHARON S GOLDSMITH - SEE NCJ-39177)

• NCJ Number: 39181
• Author(s): R A SUNDEEN; J T MATHIEU
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: D C Heath and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT ON THE FINDINGS OF AN EXPLORATORY STUDY INTO SOME OF THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT INVOKE OR REDUCE THE FEAR OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION AMONG ELDERLY.

Abstract

THE DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM OLDER PERSONS LIVING IN NONPUBLIC HOUSING IN THREE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - A CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, AN URBAN MUNICIPALITY, AND A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. THE FINDINGS EMPHASIZE THAT FEARFUL ENVIRONMENTS RELATED TO POSSIBLE CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION DIFFER AMONG ELDERLY ACCORDING TO THEIR LIVING CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY A FUNCTION OF DISSIMILARITIES IN SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS AND RESOURCES. INTERVIEW RESPONSES INDICATED THAT CENTER CITY ELDERLY HAVE FEWER SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES, A PERCEPTION OF A MORE CRIMINAL ENVIRONMENT, A GREATER FEAR OF CRIME, TAKES MORE PRECAUTIONS FOR SECURITY, AND CAN COUNT LESS ON NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT FOR SECURITY AND PROTECTION. THE RETIREMENT GROUP HAS THE GREATEST RESOURCES. A PERCEPTION OF NONCRIMINAL ENVIRONMENT, THE LOWEST FEAR OF CRIME, TAKES THE FEWEST SECURITY MEASURES, AND HAS THE GREATEST SENSE OF COMMUNAL SUPPORT, A DISCUSSION OF THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS FOCUSES ON AN ANALYSIS OF A PROPOSED SAFE NICHE IN A FEARFUL ENVIRONMENT. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW