NCJ Number
49972
Date Published
1978
Length
154 pages
Annotation
THE ELDERLY IN CHATTANOOGA, TENN., CONSTITUTE 10.6 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. A SAMPLE OF THIS GROUP WAS TAKEN TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION AND TO DEVELOP PREVENTION IN PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE QUESTIONNAIRE SELECTED FOR THIS SURVEY IS ENTITLED 'CRIME AND THE SENIOR CITIZEN.' IT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE TECHNICAL RESEARCH SERVICES DIVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE. A TOTAL OF 1,003 USABLE REPLIES WERE RECEIVED FROM THE TARGET GROUP DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD, MAY 1977 THROUGH MARCH 1978. OF THIS NUMBER, 120 RESPONDENTS (ABOUT 12 PERCENT) INDICATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME. RESPONDENTS WERE DIVIDED BY AGE INTO TWO CATEGORIES: 60 THROUGH 69 AND OVER 70. THE 60-69 AGE GROUP (42 PERCENT) REPORTED BEING MORE ACTIVE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT THAN THE PERSONS OVER 70, WHICH CONCURS WITH OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS. BOTH GROUPS REPORTED EXPERIENCING STRONG FEELINGS OF INSECURITY REGARDING THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY AT NIGHT. A HIGHER PROPORTION OF THOSE OVER 70 REPORTED THAT THEY NEVER FELT SAFE. CRIME ALSO HAMPERED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT MORE FOR THOSE OVER 70. THEFT OF PROPERTY WAS THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED CRIME FOR BOTH GROUPS. PURSE SNATCHING, IN PARTICULAR, WAS THE SECOND MOST COMMON CRIME AMONG VICTIMS 60-69 AND ASSAULT WAS THE SECOND MOST COMMON CRIME AMONG THOSE OVER 70. FEMALE RESPONDENTS OUTNUMBERED MALES, REFLECTING THEIR LARGER NUMBER IN THIS AGE GROUP. FEMALES REPORTED MUCH HIGHER RATES OF BREAKING AND ENTERING, A HIGHER DOLLAR LOSS, AND A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF OFFENSES IN THE AFTERNOON. BOTH SEXES REPORTED THAT MOST OFFENSES OCCURRED IN THE HOME. THE RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAMPLE RESEMBLED THOSE OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE: 63 PERCENT WHITE, 36 PERCENT BLACK, AND 1 PERCENT OTHER. WHITE FEMALES SUFFERED MOST FROM OFFENSES, BLACK MALES LEAST. FEAR OF CRIME WAS EQUAL AMONG BLACKS AND WHITES, EVEN THOUGH TWICE AS MANY WHITES WERE VICTIMIZED AS BLACKS. THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSES REPORTED BY BLACK RESPONDENTS WERE LIKELY TO BE PERSONAL CRIMES; THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSES REPORTED BY WHITE VICTIMS WERE LIKELY TO BE PROPERTY LOSSES. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT MOST ELDERLY PERSONS CARRIED A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH THEM, AVOIDED CERTAIN STREETS, AND AVOIDED GOING OUT ALONE AT NIGHT. HOWEVER, THE USE OF SPECIAL LOCKS AND OTHER HOME SECURITY DEVICES WAS LOW. MORE WHITES THAN BLACKS HAD THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS MAILED DIRECTLY TO THE BANK. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE: (1) THAT THE POLICE OFFER HOME SECURITY INSPECTIONS; (2) THAT SECURITY ITEMS BE OFFERED AT LOWER COST TO SENIOR CITIZENS; (3) THAT THE IMPROVEMENT OF HOME SECURITY BE PUBLICLY FUNDED; AND (4) THAT BANKS CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE THEIR DIRECT DEPOSIT SERVICES. THE POLICE SHOULD ALSO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS IN CRIME PREVENTION FOR THE ELDERLY. TABLES PRESENT SURVEY DATA AND AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT IS APPENDED. (GLR)