NCJ Number
36160
Date Published
Unknown
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE DEFINITION, EXTENT, AND CAUSES OF VULNERABILITY OF THE ELDERLY TO CRIME ARE DISCUSSED, AND LITERATURE AND STUDIES CONSIDERING ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
VULNERABILITY REFERS TO THE STATE OR PROPERTY OF BEING OPEN TO ATTACK OR DAMAGE AND SUGGESTS THREE TYPES OF TARGETS: PERSONAL, FINANCIAL, AND MATERIAL. IT CAN EXIST IN A PASSIVE MODE, WHEREBY, A VICTIM'S STATUS (E.G., AGE, SEX, OR INCOME) IS RECOGNIZED AS EXPLOITABLE, OR AN ACTIVE MODE, WHEREBY A VICTIM'S BEHAVIOR, (E.G., DEMURE, SEDUCTIVE, AGGRESSIVE, ANTAGONISTIC) CONTRIBUTES TO A CRIME. A 1971 STUDY ON THE SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL THEORY OF AGING SUGGESTED THAT THE AGED PERSON WHO IS HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND MOBILE BLENDS IN WITH SOCIETY, WHEREAS THE AGED PERSON WHO IS POOR AND UNHEALTHY WILL BE MORE VISIBLE AND THEREFORE MORE VULNERABLE. HOWEVER, THE ASSUMPTION THAT VISIBILITY CONTRIBUTES TO VICTIMIZATION IS UNSUBSTANTIATED. THE LIFE SYLE OF MOST ELDERLY PERSONS IS USUALLY UNOBTRUSIVE AND THEREFORE REDUCES THE CHANCE OF VICTIMIZATION. THEIR ACTUAL VULNERABILITY BECOMES APPARENT ONLY WHEN THE ELDERLY LEAVE THEIR ISOLATION AND PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS TAKE PLACE. THE 1970 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEMONSTRATION STUDY, PROJECT ASSIST, EXAMINED THE EXTENT OF VICTIMIZATION AMONG THE AGED AND DEVELOPED A MODEL FOR A PROGRAM OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS TO BENEFIT THE ELDERLY. THE PROJECT SERVED 220 CLIENTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT VICTIMS WERE MOST OFTEN FEMALE, BLACK, POOR, AND WIDOWED OR SINGLE. MANY HAD MULTIPLE SOCIAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT. MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE AREA OF DIFFERENTIAL VULNERABILITY OF THE AGED. (DAG)