PATTERN AND EFFECT OF CRIME AGAINST THE AGING - THE KANSAS CITY STUDY (FROM CRIME AND THE ELDERLY - CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE, 1976 BY JACK GOLDSMITH AND SHARON S GOLDSMITH - SEE NCJ-39177)

• NCJ Number: 39180
• Author(s): C L CUNNINGHAM
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: D C Heath and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA BASED ON A DETAILED STUDY OF OVER 1800 SERIOUS CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PERSONS OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

Abstract

PRIMARY DATA WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS, NEXT OF KIN, POLICE, WITNESSES, AND A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER EX-FELONS KNOWN TO HAVE ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPES OF CRIMES THAT AFFECTED THE ELDERLY MOST SERIOUSLY (RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, ARMED AND STRONG ARM ROBBERY, AND LARCENY). NARRATIVE AND TABULAR DATA INDICATE THAT 56 PERCENT OF THE CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY WERE BURGLARIES. THE MEDIAN AGE OF VICTIMS WAS 68.8 YEARS, ALTHOUGH 12 PERCENT WERE OVER 80 YEARS OF AGE. A MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS (74 PERCENT) WERE WHITE AND HAD BEEN VICTIMIZED BY BLACK MALES UNDER 30. OVER 58 PERCENT OF THE ROBBERY VICTIMS HAD INCOMES UNDER $5000 A YEAR AND OVER 26 PERCENT OF ALL ELDERLY VICTIMS OF ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND LARCENY WERE MULTIPLE VICTIMS. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DATA FOR PERSONAL AND RESIDENTIAL SECURITY, TARGET HARDENING, AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT ARE CONSIDERED....ELW