NCJ Number
59502
Date Published
1978
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT REVIEWS RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS DIRECTED TOWARD CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND IDENTIFIES AREAS OR PRIORITY FOR POSSIBLE STATE INTERVENTION.
Abstract
THE REPORT, SIXTH IN A SERIES OF STUDIES ON STATE GOVERNMENT POLICY ON AGING, EXAMINES CRIME AND THE ELDERLY. THE APPROACH OF THE PROJECT WAS TO REVIEW THE LITERATURE AND CURRENT PRACTICES PERTAINING TO THE ELDERLY. NATIONAL SURVEY DATA INDICATE THAT OLDER PEOPLE HAVE RELATIVELY LOW VICTIMIZATION RATES, BUT STATISTICS MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE CRIME PROBLEMS OF OLDER PERSONS. THE FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AGE OF THE VICTIM. ONE SURVEY REPORT INDICATES THAT OLDER MALES, EITHER WHITE OR NONWHITE, ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF CRIMINAL ACTS. ALTHOUGH THE EXTENT OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY IS LOWER THAN FOR OTHER AGE GROUPS, OLDER PERSONS SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THEY TAKE LONGER TO HEAL WHEN INJURED AND SINCE THEY ARE USUALLY ON A FIXED INCOME, THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO PAY FOR NECESSITIES (FOOD, RENT, MEDICAL BILLS) IF THEY ARE ROBBED. FEAR OF BEING VICTIMIZED MAY BE MORE OF A PROBLEM FOR THE ELDERLY THAN THE EXTENT OF THE CRIME ITSELF. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT FEAR OF CRIME IS EXPRESSED MORE OFTEN BY OLDER WOMEN THAN BY MEN; OLDER BLACKS EXPRESS MORE FEAR THAN WHITES; OLDER PEOPLE AT LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS EXPRESS MORE FEAR THAN THOSE AT HIGHER LEVELS; AND OLDER PEOPLE LIVING IN LARGER CITIES ARE MORE FEARFUL THAN THOSE LIVING IN SMALLER TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS. REASONS FOR THE FEAR OF BEING VICTIMIZED INCLUDE LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, LIVING ALONE, AND BEHAVIOR SHIFTS. PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CRIME AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OLDER VICTIMS INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, 24-HOUR SOCIAL SERVICES, VICTIM COMPENSATION, PROTECTION AGAINST REPRISALS, DIRECT DEPOSIT FINANCING, EDUCATION IN SELF-DEFENSE AND SURVIVAL, PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN THE HOME, BETTER STREET LIGHTING, ESCORT SERVICES, AND VOLUNTARY SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS. STATE PLANNING AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE CRIME CONTROL ACT OF 1976 TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY AGAINST CRIME. AS OF JULY 1978, MORE THAN HALF THE STATES HAD DEVELOPED PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE STATEWIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION, PROVISION FOR POLICE TRAINING, FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT UNITS, AND EXPERT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. FOOTNOTES AND AN APPENDIX ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)