CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ELDERLY (FORGOTTEN VICTIMS AN ADVOCATES ANTHOLOGY, 1977, BY GEORGE NICHOLSON ET AL SEE NCJ-41467)

• NCJ Number: 50593
• Author(s): J GOLDSMITH; E C VIANO; G GEIS; M A RIFAI; W ROTH; G NICHOLSON; T W CONDIT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: California District Attorneys Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CRIME AND THE ELDERLY IS EXAMINED WITH RESPECT TO A VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INCREASED LIFESPANS, THE SEVERE HANDLING OF OFFENDERS, INNER CITY CRIME, VICTIM VULNERABILITY, AND OFFENDER LIABILITY.

Abstract

SIX SHORT ARTICLES DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION. IT IS ARGUED THAT FROM A VICTIM-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE, THE SEVERAL DIMENSIONS OF THE DISTINCTIVE NATURE OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY WHICH BECOME APPARENT, INCLUDE THE DIFFERENTIAL PHYSICAL IMPACT, THE DIFFERENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE DIFFERENTIAL VULNERABILITY AND ABILITY TO RESIST, AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF FEAR OF CRIME. FURTHER, THERE IS A GROWING CONSENSUS THAT THE OLDER VICTIM IS PART OF A SPECIAL VICTIM SUBGROUP WHICH REQUIRES SPECIAL ATTENTION AND A DIFFERENT KIND OF RESPONSE. SOME FORM OF VICTIM ADVOCACY FOR OLDER VICTIMS OF CRIME IS NEEDED WITHIN THE LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY. IN CONTRAST, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE CRISIS MENTALITY THAT HAS DEVELOPED CONCERNING ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION, COUPLED WITH INCREASED ELDERLY POPULATIONS, PRESENTS INVALID CHALLENGES FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY. IT IS ARGUED THAT AVAILABLE DATA DO NOT SUPPORT COMMON ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ELDERLY VULNERABILITY, AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND CRISIS RESPONSE; THAT HEADLINING ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION MAY SERVE TO OBSCURE LESS OBVIOUS, THOUGH EQUALLY SEVERE PROBLEMS; AND THAT AFFIXING THE CRISIS LABEL ON THE CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION OF THE ELDERLY MAKES DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION OF APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES DIFFICULT. IN CONTRAST TO THIS, IT IS ARGUED THAT BECAUSE OLDER PEOPLE ARE LESS STRONG AND LESS ABLE TO RESIST, VERY OFTEN RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY OR PENSION CHECKS ON WIDELY KNOWN DATES, AND ARE OFTEN ISOLATED AND CONCENTRATED IN URBAN HIGH CRIME AREAS, THEY ARE NECESSARILY MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VICTIMIZATION AND FEAR OF CRIME THAN OTHER GROUPS AND DESERVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BOTH WITH RESPECT TO SERVICES AND THE PUNISHMENT OF THE OFFENDERS. A NEW SENTENCING PROCEDURE FOR OFFENDERS IN CALIFORNIA WOULD ALLOW FOR THE SPECIAL HANDLING OF DESIGNATED TYPES OF OFFENDERS, INCLUDING THOSE VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY. OTHER EFFORTS ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS HAVE SOUGHT TO IMPOSE STRICTER TERMS FOR ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION AND THE AUTOMATIC WAIVER TO ADULT COURT OF 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS CHARGED WITH A CRIME AGAINST ELDERLY PERSONS KNOWN TO BE 65 YEARS OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME. LEGISLATION AND COURT DECISIONS ARE CITED AND DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE FOOTNOTED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)