NCJ Number
36413
Date Published
1976
Length
88 pages
Annotation
THIS RESEARCH REPORT SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY MADE BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1974, OF 3,681 AGED VICTIMS OF CRIMES THAT OCCURRED IN TEXAS DURING 1973.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF THE COMMISSION ON HOMICIDE, RAPE, ASSAULT, ROBBERY, BURGLARY, FELONY THEFT, PURSE SNATCHING, AUTO THEFT, AND SWINDLING AGAINST PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER; TO ANALYZE THE VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS BY RACE, AGE, AND SEX; AND TO DETERMINE WHEN, WHERE, AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES CRIMES WERE COMMITTED. IN THIS STATEWIDE STUDY, MORE THAN ONE OUT OF THIRTEEN ELDERLY TEXANS REPORTED BEING VICTIMIZED. DIFFERENCES BY ETHNIC GROUPS WERE SMALL, ALTHOUGH WOMEN WERE SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMIZED BY MEN. SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS SAID THEY REPORTED THE CRIME TO THE POLICE. STUDY RESULTS ALSO INDICATED THAT CRIMES WERE PREDOMINATELY INTRARACIAL AND THAT MOST OFFENDERS WERE YOUNG, MALE AND UNKNOWN TO THE VICTIM. A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONAL MOBILITY AND THE LOCATION OF CRIMES WAS ALSO INDICATED. THE TABULATED SURVEY FINDINGS APPEAR IN THE APPENDIX ALONG WITH COPIES OF BOTH THE SPANISH AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE.