NCJ Number
73314
Date Published
1980
Length
174 pages
Annotation
A survey of elderly citizens of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, attempted to assess the interrelationships of certain demographic and sociodemographic factors and to assess the value of a telephone directory and information packet designed for crime prevention.
Abstract
Three age categories were employed in the survey -- 65-69, 70-74, and 74 and older. The percentages of male and female respondents and of the three age categories were approximately the same as the 1980 projections for Hamilton County. The interviewers were all over age 65. Two questionnaires were used. The first covered fear of crime; protection practices; victimization incidents; evaluations of police and courts; and recommendations for increasing safety, security, and well-being for those 65 and older. The second measured the value and any crime-related effect of a telephone directory of services to the elderly and a crime prevention packet. The victimization rate including fraud and telephone harassment was 44 percent. The majority of respondents expressed fear of crime and a reluctance to report victimization. A small percentage of respondents limited or altered their activities in response to increased crime, while most other respondents relied on family and friends or on the police when afraid of crime. Police performance was evaluated more positively than court performance. Survey findings also indicate a healthy level of psychological functioning in respondents. A majority of respondents to the second questionnaire reported that they keep the telephone directory in a convenient place. Recommendations based on the survey focus on development of programs for support and life satisfaction, better dissemination of crime prevention information, better transportation, and encouragement of the telephone company and the local police to increase efforts to end telephone harassment. The survey data tables, the questionaires, and technical information are appended. Additional tables, graphs, footnotes, and 24 references are supplied.