NCJ Number
83198
Date Published
1980
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This summary presents the results of a research project to examine the problem of crime that victimizes the elderly in Pennsylvania.
Abstract
The research team discovered that the elderly population in Pennsylvania is increasing in number and proportion of total residents. The elderly constitute a major percentage of the total population in a significant number of Pennsylvania's counties. There are significant concentrations of elderly who have incomes below the poverty level. The incidence of crime is not directly related to percentage of elderly residents in a given Pennsylvania county. Elderly criminal victimization trends in Pennsylvania appear to be similar to national patterns: they indicate that the elderly are the least victimized of all age groups. However, crime's effects are far more devastating for the elderly than for other age groups. A significant number of Pennsylvania's elderly population limits or changes activities due to fear of crime. This fear impairs the quality of life for elderly residents. It is recommended that the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report be modified to include the age, sex, and race of crime victims. An interagency task force should be appointed to marshal available resources and ensure coordination of efforts in combating crimes that victimize the elderly. A crime prevention training program should be developed and administered to the service providers who assist the elderly. Residential security services should be provided to Pennsylvania's elderly, and the problem of parent abuse should be researched to determine its scope. The Direct Deposit Program should be endorsed and actively advocated by the Pennsylvania Elderly service System. Staff members of senior centers should be instructed on the Crime Victims Compensation Program. Ten graphs are provided.