This paper will explore and examine the causes of crimes against the elderly. Senior citizens are targeted for many crimes because of their decision not to fight back in some situations. Over the years, research has shown that the percentage of violent crimes against the elderly has declined in some areas. While this may be true, the reason for the decrease in elderly victim crime stems from the idea of self-protection where they stay inside more to avoid any violent confrontation. However, there is an increase of violent crimes against the elderly among close family members and friends.
Literature Review
While crime has many victims those older in age become a greater risk for some violent crimes. The vulnerability of the elderly leave them open for such elderly forms of violence such as fraud and property crimes. Most time the elderly are on a fixed income and become an easy target for fraud. Frauds can come in the form of in side as well as outside scams. Telemarketers or other over the phone, mail scams and even is amongst the relatives of the elderly. These crimes result in isolate of the elderly within their homes to ensure their own safety.
Often time the elderly put limitations on when, where and what times the will go out during the day or night (National Center for Victims of Crimes 2001). It has been shown that violent crimes among the elderly are decreased however it has increased in other areas among other age groups. While home invasion cases of the elderly have not changed the fear the elderly is something that has not yet been something that has not yet been changed. So many incidents go unreported each year, which makes it hard for many researchers to gain accurate results.
Research Plan
Over the years the number of elderly persons within the United States has increased. In studies done to understand the effects of violent crimes against the elderly many have shown a decrease in crimes among the elderly and an increase in crime younger individuals. Table 1 shows relationship between ages of persons victimized.
Number of victimizations per 1,000 persons or households
Age Violent crime Personal theft Household crime
12-24 64.6 112.7 309.3
25-49 27.2 71.2 200.2
50-64 8.5 38.3 133.0
65 or older 4.0 19.5 78.5
Persons between the ages of 12 and 24 have the highest victimization rates for all types of crime, while those ages 65 or older have the lowest. Note from U.S. Department of Justice; Bureau of Justice Statistics (1994).
Trends in violent victimization by age, 1973-2001
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/vage.htm
As shown in the chart above this graph gives a more detailed look at the age and year of victims of violent crimes. In the graph we see that those in the younger age group have a much higher chance of being victimized then those older. This graph also shows an increase in violence in most recent years for younger victims while those 50 and up have remain steady throughout the years shown.
Note from Department of Justice; Bureau of Justice Statistics (2001).
The relationship between the victim and the offender is always important, mainly because the offender knows when, where, and how to approach the victim. Table 2 gives the four types of offenders for victims of violent crimes under and over the age of 65.
Percent of violent crime victims whose offenders are:
Acquaint- Relationship
Relatives ances Strangers unknown
Crimes of
violence
Under 65 8% 33% 56% 3%
65 or older 8 20 64 8
Robbery
Under 65 5 7 74 4
65 or older 3 5 83 9
Assault
Under 65 9 36 52 3
65 or older 13 32 47 8
Note from U.S. Department of Justice; Bureau of Justice Statistics (1994).
Most elderly persons prefer to stay in to avoid becoming victims of violence crimes. However, the vulnerable of elderly victim can play a large part in where and which certain crimes are committed. Table 3 displays out of 100% of the total victims involved in a violent crime the percentages of a crime occurring within a certain place and the three types of crimes involved.
Place of occurrence
In public or
At Near On the business
Total home home street facility Elsewhere
Crimes of
violence
Under 65 100% 14% 11% 39% 21% 15%
65 or older 100 25 25 31 9 10
Robbery
Under 65 100 13 9 52 16 10
65 or older 100 20 21 37 13 10
Assault
Under 65 100 14 12 36 21 15
65 or older 100 27 29 27 7 10
Note from U.S. Department of Justice; Bureau of Justice Statistics (1994).
Associated Press. (2000). Older Americans avoid crime by staying in.
Online Athens. Retrieved January 29, 2003, from
Conclusion
With all that has been said about the rate of crime in the United States it is also possible he say that the victims of crime have changed. For years elderly victims have been seen in a light that holds them in a special place in society.
Certain crimes that were once held for younger victims are not targeting older individuals. Person’s ages 65 and older are seen as senior citizen and can be watched, studied and predictable. In 1999 elderly persons counted for 13% of the U.S. population (National Center for Victims of Crimes 2001).
These common facts are what make them such easy prey for fraud, robberies (purse snatching), burglaries (home invasions), and assault. These crimes often require a change in lifestyle to reserve a sense of safety. Most time the elderly are on a fixed income and become an easy target for fraud. Frauds can come in the form of in side as well as outside scams. Telemarketers or other over the phone, mail scams and even be amongst the relatives of the elderly.
These crimes result in isolate of the elderly within their homes to ensure their own safety. Often time the elderly put limitations on when, where and what times the will go out during the day or night. While often times a high number of these crimes are committed by strangers, there are instances where a friend or family member commits these crimes. To have so many dangerous factors during time in your life where you should be able to relax only make it the much harder to lower victimization crime rates in out growing society.
Associated Press. (2000). Older Americans avoid crime by staying
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http://www.athensnewspaper.com/stories/011000/new_0110000005.shtml
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Jordan, L. (2002). Law Enforcement and the elderly: a concern for
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http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m2194/5_71/86876522.jhtml
Joseph, J. (1997). Fear of crime among black elderly.
Journal of Black Studies, 27, 698-718.
Lichtblau, E. (2002). Senior citizens less targeted in crimes.
Las Angeles Times. Retrieved January 29, 2003, from:
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Stein, J.H., Young, M.A. (1990). Elderly crime victims: the double sorrow.
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U.S. Department of Justice. (2001). Violent crimes rates by age
of victim. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/vage.htm
U.S. Department of Justice. (1994). Elderly crimes victims: National crime victimization
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