NCJ Number
90597
Date Published
1983
Length
281 pages
Annotation
Recommendations on the design of programs oriented specifically to the rural elderly, based on findings from the 1974 and 1980 Ohio Rural Victim Studies, focus on gearing these programs to property-related offenses, modifying behavior before acquiring deterrent hardware, and reducing the fear of crime among older rural women.
Abstract
Moreover, crime prevention programs for the rural elderly should focus on their active participation in community-wide age-integrative strategies and should seek elders' participation by reference to basic values of safety and living in a good community. The report reviews definitions of 'rural' and examines major economic, social, and cultural differences between rural and urban sectors of contemporary American society. It reviews recent findings on the economic, social, and physical status of older rural persons and discusses the data collection procedures used in the 1974 and 1980 rural victim surveys in Ohio. Attention is given to the extent of crime occurring by age and for type of criminal incident. The relationship between victimization and the perceived threat of crime is examined on an age-group basis. Concluding chapters present a profile of the older rural victim, assess and analyze the level of crime prevention practiced by the rural elderly, and offer recommendations for the design of crime prevention programs for older Americans. Chapter references, tables, figures, and survey instruments are provided.