NCJ Number
76117
Date Published
Unknown
Length
92 pages
Annotation
The Victim Assistance for Older Adults Program, developed by the Northside Community Mental Health Center of Tampa, Fla., is described.
Abstract
Development of a program to meet the special needs of elderly victims of crime was necessitated by several factors. For example, the high incidence of reduced or low income among the elderly means that the impact of any loss of economic resources is greater. Also, older people are more likely to be victimized repeatedly; often the same crime is committed by the same offender. Moreover, older people are more likely to live alone, and social isolation increases vulnerability to crime. Older people are also more likely to have diminished physical strength, suffer from physical ailments, and be dependent on public transportation. By using neighborhood liaison workers, who themselves are elderly and residents of the victim's neighborhood, the project reaches out and provides a variety of social and community services to assist the victim in returning to the previctimization state. Types of services offered include crime prevention counseling, assistance in replacing critical items such as glasses and hearing aids, assistance in replacing stolen checks and identification cards, and aid in obtaining necessary health care. Liaison workers serve as victim advocates if required and work to increase the likelihood that the elderly will report crimes and participate in the criminal justice system. The population served by the program is anyone 55 years of age or older who has been the victim of a rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, or motor vehicle theft committed in Hillsborough County. Victim information is received by the program from police reports, referrals from other agencies, and from the victims themselves. Response to the program from law enforcement authorities and from the community has been favorable. Staff training and program evaluation efforts are also described. Case studies are provided, and data collection forms and 22 references are appended.