NCJ Number
146025
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 20-27
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study tests the hypothesis that specialized police services for elderly crime victims affect not only the way these victims view their personal safety, but also how they view the safety of their neighborhoods.
Abstract
Since 1980, the Milwaukee Police Department has operated a senior citizen anti-crime unit. The staff of five detectives has received specialized sensitivity training in interviewing and interrogating elderly people. They are more knowledgeable than most officers about community resources for the elderly. The primary responsibility of this unit is to investigate and prevent "contact crimes" against seniors, defined as assaults robberies, personal larcenies and confidence crimes. This study of the effectiveness of the unit involved an attitude survey of nonoffender recipients of police service among Milwaukee residents who are 60 years old and older. Data were collected from those in this age group who received specialized police services during 1986 and 1987. The questionnaire administered to the sample of 289 seniors solicited attitudes and levels of satisfaction/dissatisfaction toward police performance. This study found that seniors who had received services from the specialized police unit felt personally safer and viewed their neighborhoods as safer compared to similarly situated persons who did not receive such services. 2 tables and 30 references