NCJ Number
85804
Date Published
1981
Length
87 pages
Annotation
These proceedings reported from an Australian seminar on elderly crime victims and offenders present victimization and offender statistics, and suggest ways that victimization of the elderly, victimization effects, and crimes by the elderly may be reduced.
Abstract
Two essays present data on the appearances of the elderly in New South Wales petty sessions courts for such offenses as public drunkenness, drinking and driving, and larceny, notably shoplifting. Public drunkenness is the most frequent charge, and shoplifting composes about 80 percent of the larceny charges for the elderly defendants. The sentencing of the elderly and the extent to which age has been taken into account in the sentencing are also considered. A review of the victimization of the elderly in New South Wales indicates that the elderly are victimized less than their proportion in the population would lead one to expect; however, their fear of crime is out of proportion to their actual risk of victimization. Social and police policy for dealing with this fear is recommended. Another paper recommends ways to prevent the victimization of the elderly through the crimes of robbery, burglary, and fraud, followed by consideration of the need for victim services in New South Wales. The increased involvement of the elderly in shoplifting is also discussed. The concluding essay presents six case studies of elderly homicide offenders, which indicate that they are frequently impaired physically and psychologically. Recommendations are offered to improve the quality of medical and psychiatric investigation and reporting prior to case disposition. Two discussion papers focus on the elderly as offenders and victims in corporate crime and the special protection and support that should be provided the elderly because of their unique vulnerability to crime victimization. For individual entries, see NCJ 85805-8.