NCJ Number
43631
Date Published
1977
Length
42 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXTENT AND CHARACTER OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS PRIVATE AGENCY PROGRAMS TO REDUCE SUCH CRIME IS GIVEN; DATA WERE COLLECTED IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS OF NEW YORK CITY.
Abstract
IN 1975, WHEN THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE BEGAN TO KEEP FIGURES ON CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, PERSONS OVER AGE 60 COMPRISED 17.6 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION AND CONSTITUTED 8 PERCENT OF ALL CRIME VICTIMS, BUT ACCOUNTED FOR 19 PERCENT OF VICTIMS OF ROBBERY AND GRAND LARCENY WITH FORCE EMPLOYED. CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY MOST FREQUENTLY OCCUR ON THE STREET OR IN PUBLIC AREAS OF BUILDINGS, BUT THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES TAKE PLACE WITHIN AN APARTMENT. MOST COMMON SERIOUS CRIMES WERE POCKETBOOK ROBBERIES, PURSE SNATCHINGS, OPEN AREA ROBBERIES, RESIDENTIAL ROBBERIES, AND DWELLING ROBBERIES. IN NEW YORK, CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY REPORTED TO THE POLICE AVERAGE 1000-1200 A MONTH; HOWEVER, A STUDY BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS INDICATES THAT ONLY ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF CRIMES IN NEW YORK ARE REPORTED. THE CRIMINAL WHO PREYS ON THE ELDERLY AVERAGES 18.5 YEARS OF AGE, WITH THE MODAL AGE ABOUT 16 AND AN UPPER AGE IN THE 20'S. SUSPECTS WHO VICTIMIZE WOMEN ARE SOMEWHAT YOUNGER THAN THOSE WHO VICTIMIZE MEN. CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS SURVEYED INCLUDED PERSONAL ESCORT AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, CRIME SECURITY SYSTEMS FOR FOR THE HOME, 'BUDDY BUZZER' SYSTEMS, CB RADIOS, TELEPHONE ALERTS, MAIL DEPOSIT OF FUNDS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, TENANT AND HOME OWNER PATROLS RELOCATION PROGRAMS, AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS SEEM TO BE: THE EXPERIMENTAL 'BUDDY BUZZER' SYSTEM, WHICH LINKS ELDERLY PERSONS TO THEIR NEIGHBORS; A TELEPHONE FOR EACH ELDERLY PERSON; AND HOME SECURITY DEVICES. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALSO SEEM TO BE QUITE EFFECTIVE. RELOCATION ASSISTANCE OUT OF HIGH CRIME AREAS HAS POTENTIAL. EVEN GREATER POTENTIAL IS SEEN FOR RELOCATING WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OUT OF BUILDINGS WITH VACANT APARTMENTS AND POOR LIGHTING INTO WELL-LIT, MORE HEAVILY TRAVELED AREAS. VICTIM ASSISTANCE SHOULD INCLUDE NOT ONLY FINANCIAL AID BUT SHOULD AID IN REPLACING LOST DOCUMENTS. THE FIRST STEP SHOULD BE A BOOKLET LISTING NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF AGENCIES TO CONTACT FOR NEW MEDICAID CARDS. DIRECT ASSITANCE IN REPLACING LOST DOCUMENTS WOULD BE A VALID PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCY. WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AID THE ELDERLY AS WELL AS ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME. TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND ESCORT SERVICES HAVE MANY OTHER VALUES IN ADDITION TO REDUCING VULNERABILITY, BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THESE SERVICES CAN BE OFFERED WIDELY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY.