NCJ Number
50766
Date Published
1977
Length
61 pages
Annotation
EFFORTS OF THE CRIME RESISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY IN WILMINGON (DEL), THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE CONDUCTED, THE PROBLEMS BEING ENCOUNTERED, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED IN 1976 TO COUNTER CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY IN WILMINGTON ARE DESCRIBED. THEY INCLUDE THE USE OF A HIDDEN POCKET SEWN INSIDE GARMENTS FOR CARRYING MONEY AND VALUABLES, PROVISION OF AN ESCORT SERVICE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD BASIS, REVITALIZATION OF BLOCK-WATCH PROGRAMS, AND THE OPERATION OF AN ESCORT SYSTEM USING ELDERLY ESCORTS. VOLUNTEERS REPORT RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF ELDERLY PERSONS TO ACCEPT RIDES AND A HESITANCY ON THE PART OF FEMALES TO ACCEPT THE HIDDEN POCKET PROGRAM. A COURT MONITORING PROGRAM WAS ALSO DEVELOPED USING TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR FAMILY COURT CASES. TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMS, POLICE REPORTS ON STREET CRIME AND ELDERLY PERSONS WERE REVIEWED FOR THE YEAR OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, 1976, AND ALSO FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DATA WAS COMPARED FOR THE TWO YEARS, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A 21.5 PERCENT DECREASE IN CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY IN 1976. THE DATA SHOWED THAT MOST CRIMES ARE COMMITTED AWAY FROM THE ELDERLY VICTIMS' RESIDENCES. THE CRIMES WERE USUALLY COMMITTED DURING THE DAY AND USUALLY INVOLVE WHITE, FEMALE VICTIMS. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIME RESISTANCE PROGRAMS WAS EXAMINED, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A GREAT DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL. RESIDENTS OF HIGHER CRIME AREAS WERE MORE LIKELY TO SHOW A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAMS. PUBLICITY FOR THE PROGRAM INCLUDED SPEECHES AND AN EXTENSIVE DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE. THE PRIMARY PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IN THE PROGRAMS WAS THE DIFFICULTY IN TRANSFERRING THE DEEP CONCERN AND FRUSTRATION OF THE ELDERLY INTO PRACTICAL ACTION, FOR THE ELDERLY TEND TO HAVE A BASIC DISTRUST OF OTHER PERSONS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN CRIME DATA AND COPIES OF PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS. (DAG)