NCJ Number
38196
Journal
GERIATRICS Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 40 & 42
Date Published
1976
Length
2 pages
Annotation
JACK GOLDSMITH, CHAIRMAN OF THE 1976 CONFERENCE ON CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, DISCUSSES ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION AND POLICE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES.
Abstract
A QUESTION-ANSWER FORMAT IS USED TO DISCUSS THE CAUSES AND EXTENT OF ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION, TYPES OF CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST THE ELDERLY, AND POLICE AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO CONTROL SUCH CRIME. SINCE ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE PHYSICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE AND OFTEN LIVE ALONE IN HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY ARE LIKELY CRIME VICTIMS. BURGLARY IS THE MOST PREVALENT CRIME, FOLLOWED BY ROBBERY, GRAND LARCENY, AUTO THEFT, AND NONVIOLENT PURSE-SNATCHING. SEPARATE DATA ON CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN TO BE COLLECTED. A 3-YEAR STUDY OF ROBBERY IN OAKLAND, CALIF., FOR INSTANCE, REPORTED THAT THE PROBABILITY OF ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY BEING VICTIMIZED WITHIN A YEAR WAS 1 IN 146 FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION, BUT 1 IN 24 FOR WOMEN OVER 65. THESE FINDINGS ARE IN LINE WITH RESULTS OF 5 URBAN VICTIMIZATION STUDIES BY LEAA. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS TO CONTROL CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY ARE UNDERWAY IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IN HARTFORD, CONN., A TEENAGE ESCORT SERVICE WAS DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS INITIATED A TENANT PATROL. THE 1971 WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING RECOMMENDED THAT POLICE PROTECTION OF THE ELDERLY BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY AND THAT STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY BE DEVELOPED FOR HOUSING PROJECTS SERVING THE ELDERLY. (DAG)