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1 Catherine J. Whitaker, Elderly Victims 1 (1987)

handle is hein.death/eldvc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report Elderly Victims by Catherine J. Whitaker, Ph.D. BJS Statistician Data from the National Crime Survey (NCS) show that between 1980 and 1985 the elderly, those age 65 and older, had the lowest victimization rates of any age group of the U.S. population age 12 and older. In a number of respects, however, crimes committed against the elderly are often more serious than crimes against younger people. Major findings of this report include the following: * Elderly violent crime victims were more likely than younger victims to face offenders armed with guns (16% vs. 12%). * Elderly violent crime victims were more likely than younger victims to re- port that the offenders were total strangers (62% vs. 47%). e The elderly were more likely than victims under age 65 to be victimized by a violent crime at or near their own homes (45% vs. 22%). Those 75 and older were the most likely of any age group to be victimized in this location (55%). * About 46% of elderly victims of vio- lent crime were attacked, and 29% were injured, about the same propor- tions as victims under 65. * Among the elderly, violent crime vic- tims age 75 and older were more likely to be Injured and to receive medical care for their injuries than victims age 65-74. * The elderly were less likely than younger victims to attempt to protect themselves during a crime incident (52% vs. 72%). November 1987 This report, based upon data from the National Crime Survey, exam- ines the problem of crime against the elderly, including those crimes not reported to law enforcement agencies. It confirms earlier find- ings about the frequency of vic- timizations of elderly Americans- the elderly are victims of crime less often than are those in other age groups. Nevertheless, as the report points out, crimes against the el- derly are more serious in several respects and probably more fright- ening than crimes committed against younger people. In addi- tion, we must be aware of the intangible effects of crime upon those who may be most vulnerable physically and economically. This report can be of use to those who help the elderly to cope with the reality of crime. It provides valuable information to policymakers and researchers on crime and victimization in the United States. Steven R. Schlesinger Director * Among victims who reported financial losses, the elderly reported large losses ($250 or more) about as often as did younger victims. * Among the elderly, certain groups were more vulnerable to crime than others: Males, blacks, separated or divorced persons, and urban residents generally had the highest victimization rates. e Those age 75 and older had similar victimization rates to those age 65-74 for robbery and personal larceny with contact but lower rates for assaults, personal larceny without contact, and household crimes. Victimization rates The elderly were less likely than younger persons to be victims of crime. Teenagers and young adults under age 25 had the highest victimiza- tion rates. Older age groups generally had lower rates, and, for most types of crime, the elderly had the lowest rates of all. For example, the robbery rate for persons under age 25 was about 4 times higher than the rate for the elderly (11 vs. 3 robberies per 1,000 persons in each age group). The assault rate for those under 25 was about 17 times higher than the rate for the el- derly. Persons age 25-49 had a robbery rate that was more than twice as high and an assault rate that was about 8 times higher than the comparable rates for the elderly. The exception to this pattern of low- er victimization rates for older age groups was personal larceny with con- tact (nonforcible purse snatching and pocket picking). The rate of this crime for the elderly was not measurably dif- ferent from the rates for the other age groups. M Si

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