NCJ Number
16971
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 245-250
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE COMMON BELIEF THAT THE AGED AS A GROUP ARE GREATER VICTIMS OF CRIME AND A DESCRIPTION OF THREE HYPOTHESES ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF HOUSING TYPES TO VICTIMIZATION, CONCERN ABOUT CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME.
Abstract
IT IS CONTENDED THAT AVAILABLE EVIDENCE ON VICTIMIZATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO AGE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE POPULAR BELIEF THAT THE AGED ARE MOST FREQUENTLY VICTIMIZED. HOWEVER, THE EVIDENCE DOES SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS THAT OLDER PEOPLE HAVE A GREATER RISK THAN OTHERS OF BECOMING VICTIMS OF VARIOUS KINDS OF FRAUD AND MALICE. THE AUTHOR DEFINES TWO TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE ELDERLY - THE 'UNPROTECTED' SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND THE 'PROTECTED' MULTI-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS. THREE HYPOTHESES ARE PROPOSED. THE FIRST STATES THAT THE EXTENT OF VICTIMIZATION OF THE ELDERLY IS GREATER IN NONPROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. THE SECOND HYPOTHESIS STATES THAT CONCERN ABOUT THE EXTENT OF CRIME IS GREATER AMONG AGED PERSONS RESIDING IN PROTECTIVE, AGE-HOMOGENEOUS HOUSING. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT AMONG THE AGED, FEAR OF CRIME IS LIKELY TO BE GREATER IN NON-PROTECTIVE, AGE-HETEROGENEOUS HOUSING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)