NCJ Number
44348
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CRIME PREVENTION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, VICTIMIZATION STUDIES, AND SPECIAL TRAINING FOR POLICE ARE DISCUSSED AS EXAMPLES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO THE CRIME-RELATED PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY.
Abstract
APPROXIMATELY 2,500 POLICE OFFICERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE NATION HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION INSTITUTE'S 1-MONTH TRAINING COURSE SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 1971. THE CRIME PREVENTION METHODS TAUGHT IN THE PROGRAM HAVE PROVED PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR OLDER PERSONS. ONE OF THE EARLIEST ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOGNIZE AND BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF CRIME AGAINST OLDER PERSONS WAS THE NATIONAL RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION/AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, WHOSE 1972 SURVEY REVEALED A LACK OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS SPECIALLY TAILORED TO OLDER AMERICANS. THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTOOK PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN CRIME PREVENTION FOR THE ELDERLY AMONG POLICE AGENCIES. FEDERAL AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY INVOLVED IN CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS TO BENEFIT THE ELDERLY. AT LEAST THREE NATIONAL CONFERENCES HAVE FOCUSED ON CRIME AND THE ELDERLY. PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS HAVE PROVIDED THE ELDERLY WITH INFORMATION ON BUNCO, CONSUMER FRAUD, MEDICAL QUACKERY, PURSE SNATCHING, MAIL FRAUD, AND OTHER CRIMES TO WHICH THE ELDERLY ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. POLICE AGENCIES HAVE CARRIED OUT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF OFFICERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH ELDERLY PERSONS. VICTIMIZATION RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON THE NATURE OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, ON WAYS OF PREVENTING SUCH CRIME, AND ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE ELDERLY TOWARD POLICE. FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE LONG-RANGE EFFECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO HE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AS ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF CRIME.