Safe and Secure Environment for Older Australians

• NCJ Number: 202272
• Author(s): Marianne James; Adam Graycar; Pat Mayhew
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 99 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Australian Institute of Criminology Research and Public Policy Series No. 51

Annotation

This report outlines a crime prevention framework for the aging adult Australian population.

Abstract

Patterns of crime vary by population; the older adult population has less to fear from burglary and vehicle theft, but should be wary of consumer fraud, which occurs more frequently in their age group than any other type of crime. Despite their lower victimization risk for most crimes, some groups of older adults suffer from fear of crime, which has been shown to have a negative effect on community involvement and self-confidence. Section 1 provides an introduction about crime and the aging population, including a look at current policy challenges. Section 2 presents a framework for interventions to prevent crime against the older adult population. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention measures are discussed and a community safety strategy is outlined. This section also offers a glance at crime prevention measures in other countries such as the Netherlands and France. Section 3 considers the victimization risks for older Australians, including their risk for homicide, other violent crime, property crime, and financial crime. Section 4 presents a brief overview of fear of crime among older Australians, drawing on data from the 1999 Australian Crime and Safety Survey, which addressed how respondents felt about “neighborhood problems.” Section 5 offers the methodology and findings from the current study on how policies, services, and programs can help older Australians live safely and confidently in Australian communities. The study involved the cataloging and analysis of crime prevention programs for older people in all jurisdictions in Australia and a content analysis of the program types and program delivery. Findings show that the majority of crime prevention programs for the older population involve improving home security, which does not address the type of crime for which older Australians are most vulnerable. Section 6 outlines recommendations for practical crime prevention measures for older Australians, which include confident living programs and community safety programs. Examples of crime prevention programs from the United Kingdom are presented. Section 7 suggests policy changes that would improve the safety of older persons. References, appendix, tables, figures