Introduction
The population of the world is rapidly aging. Especially in the developed countries, the proportion of the elderly is increasing in the total population. In Japan, the proportion of people aged above the age of sixty in 1959 was 8.7%. This increased to 10.5% in 1969, 12.6% in 1979 and 16.9% in 1989 [Koichi, 1990]. This was expected to exceed 25% by the turn of the century. In Australia, the proportion of people above the age of 65 in 1991 was 11.3%; this was estimated to rise to 16.9% in 2021 and 20.1 percent in 2031. The elderly have been defined differently; they have been defined as people above the age of 65 years [Thomas, 1993]. In the United States, the demographics are also similar; in the year1900, only 4% of the population was aged above 65 years. In 1930, the proportion had grown to 5% and 9% by 1960; this represents a doubling of the proportion every thirty years. In 1994, the proportion was 12%; the US census bureau predicted that in the year 2020, the population over thirty years old will represent 20% of the population [Cross].
In the area of criminology, the study of the victim has been becoming as important as the study of the criminal [Heap, 2008]. The study of the victim can be used to create a fuller picture of the nature and motivation of crime. The study of the victim can be classified as âVictimologyâ (as opposed to criminology). The study is aimed at understanding the physical, psychological and financial effects of a crime on the victim [Heap, 2008]. There are thirteen victim classifications; the female, the young, the old, the tormentor, the depressed, the lonesome and heartbroken, the wanton, the minorities, the mentally defective, the immigrant, the dull normal, and the blocked, exempted and fighting. Carrying out victimization surveys to determine which section of the society is most affected by crime and the compilation of accurate data is of great importance to the formulation of policies that aid in combating crime.
The Elderly Victim
There is a consensus that the elderly are a low-risk crime group. However, with the growing population of elders in the community, the crimes committed against them are bound to increase. The key to all crimes involving the elderly is vulnerability; generally, they are weak and may form good targets from criminals who would normally victimize a younger person. The elderly are prone to crimes involving fraud, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, identity theft, and physical abuse [Bune]. In Japan, the intellectual offenses, that is embezzlement, fraud and forgery had twice the rate of criminal offenses against the elderly in 1988 [Koichi, 1990]. Thus the elderly are highly likely to become victims of fraud. Several factors make this section of the population susceptible to this category of crime. Usually, they have a considerable amount of money at their disposal; this is from a lifetime of saving and retirement benefits; this makes them serious targets for fraudsters. Secondly, usually they donât have close relatives to turn to for advice and second opinion, all they have is the word of the fraudster. With the fluctuation of the financial markets, the allure of investment success also reels in the money; this is in addition to the constant fear that changes in inflation will diminish savings and benefits.
The elderly are the least likely group to be victimized in many serious crimes such as burglary, rape, theft, robbery and assault. However the same group is the most likely to be victimized in crimes involving personal theft; such as pick-pocketing and snatched purses [Cook, et al, 1978].
The vulnerability of an elderly person can also be determined by the area of residence; the initial concern about the safety of the senior citizens was raised in regards to those living in public housing systems [Cook, et al, 1978]. Later studies showed that even those in private housing were also being victimized. However, the type of community that the senior citizen is living in will determine greatly if the criminal will be willing to venture in and commit a crime. Neighborhood-watch programs can greatly improve the safety status of the citizen as any suspicious activity is immediately reported to the police who are obligated to respond immediately.
Perceptions of crime by the elderly
A survey carried out in Polk County Sheriffâs office revealed the following findings; rape had a concern rating of 72%, murder had 47%, fraud/scams 37%, purse snatching 45% and burglary had a rating of 70%. However, the same study showed that the elderly were victimized most in the crimes they feared least. This shows that the rate of victimization has not grown with the exploding senior citizensâ population. However there is a growing perception among the elderly that their criminal victimization is growing. While in 1992 the proportion of the population over the age of 65 was approximately 13%, the population was victimized in only 2% of the crimes committed in the country. This however is not inconsequential. The fear of crime can cause more harm than the crime itself [Cross]. Living in constant state of terror from real or perceived danger is detrimental to the wellbeing of the elderly. The condition has been worsened by the Mediasâ sensational reporting of violent incidents, especially on television.
Trends in Victimisation of the Elderly
The rate of victimization of the elderly has generally been going down since the 1980s. In 1981, household crimes in houses with heads over 65years of age were 123/1000; the figure reduced to 75/1000 in 1990 [Cross]. Research has also shown that crime against the elderly is usually unplanned and generally carried out by young inexperienced criminals who are unarmed. This is in opposition to the more systematic and thorough criminals. On the contrary, the elderly are more likely to get injured during a crime [Cook, et al, 1978]. However, the nature of the injury may not be the same between the elderly and the younger category; for example, while a younger person may require to undergo a severe beating before being hospitalized, a senior citizen may suffer a similar injury from stumbling and falling during a purse snatching incident.
There are however other ways that an elderly person can be criminally victimized. Systematic victimization in retirement and nursing homes has been reported; this usually is physical abuse such as beatings. The victims are usually not able to get out of the situation since the administration will usually deny any of these incidents, and often cite that the victim is senile. The elderly can also suffer such abuse at home. Several factors determine the detection of victimization of an elderly person in this setup; the physical abilities of the person, the mental status, the location of the crime and the occurrence of witnesses [Bune]. The suffering in this setup is not only physical but also mental; for example, an elderly patient who is dependent on an abusive adult child may be unwilling to report abuse for fear of retaliation; or of the child being prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced with the elder losing the caregiver. Another form of victimization that an elderly person can encounter is monetary; the fraudsters usually have a false demeanor of friendliness or confidence ad quickly gain the trust of their victims. They then go ahead and get signatures on fraudulent contracts that rob their victims. There have been suggestions that the elderly lose large amounts of money since they suffer from a 1930s âdepression mentalityâ that makes them keep their bank savings in their homes rather than in banks; this claim has never been authenticated [Cook, et al, 1978]. They can also undergo monetary losses through other ploys by dishonest people; inflation of price estimates among other examples.
Effects of Criminal Victimisation
The elderly tend to suffer more from criminal victimization because they are more affected by the physical and economic consequences of crime.
Physical consequences of criminal victimization
The elderly are more prone to physical harm of crime than their younger contemporaries. The nature and extent of the physical harm inflicted during a crime have been categorized into several sections; was the victim attacked or not during the crime? Did the attack lead to injury? Was the injury serious or not? Does the injury warrant medical attention? Was the medical attention costly or the condition protracted? The answering of these questions will place into context the physical effects of the victimization. According to the age groups, persons between the age of 40-49 are the most likely to be injured during a crime. Persons older than 65years are the second most likely than the 33-39 and the 50-64 sets in that order. The 12-16 age group is the least likely to be injured during a crime [Cook, et al, 1978]. The elderly are more likely to suffer from bruises, cuts, scratches, black eyes, unconsciousness, and internal injuries.
Whereas the elderly are less likely to be attacked, they are more likely to be injured when they are attacked than the other ages. The consequences of injuries during criminal victimization range from death, severe injuries, prolonged hospitalization, disability, and psychological trauma.
Psychological effects of criminal victimization
The loss of a significant amount of money through fraudulent deals can be very devastating to an elderly person. The money lost is usually the life savings of the person or the entire retirement benefits package. This commonly leads to depression, a sense of disillusionment, and mistrust of the public.
The fear of crime is another psychological front of victimization; extreme cases of fear can cause an elderly person to lock himself in the house and avoid all public contact. Some cases have been cited where a person opts to go hungry rather than venture into danger. In the case of physical abuse, for example from a child or a caregiver, has the elderly person feels trapped since they will be entirely dependent on the abuser for all they need; staying with the abuser is risky as reporting the matter to the authorities.
Economic consequences of victimization
Monetary losses can result in two ways; household crimes or personal crimes [Cook, et al, 1978]. Burglary and larcenies constitute household crimes. Robbery and personal larceny constitute a personal crime. The differentiating factor between the former and the latter is that while robbery involves the use or the threat of bodily harm, personal larceny does not. Additionally, personal larceny can be categorized into larceny with contacts like purse snatching and pickpocketing; and larceny without contact, like the stealing of an unattended item in a public place. On the other hand, the difference between burglary and household larceny also exists; the former involves unlawful entry of the resident while the latter does not. Personal crimes that occur in the streets are the ones that receive the most media attention.
An elderly person can also lose money through fraudulent dealings as noted above.
At an incident of crime, research has shown that the elderly age group loose just about the same amount of money as members of other groups [Cook, et al, 1978]. However, the impact of this loss economically is more severe for the elderly than for the younger person. This can be attributed first to the low income among members of this group. Secondly, their ability to bounce back from a devastating loss of money is limited as their age or condition does not allow them to seek vigorous employment. Finally, in case of economic crimes committed against them, they may lack the physical or mental energy to follow up for the recovery of the stolen money; additionally, the people stealing from them may be their primary caregivers with power of attorney over the elderly personâs estate.
Control of Crimes Against the Elderly
The expert from many sectors agree that the most urgent issue to tackle regarding the criminal victimization of the elderly is the public perception; while there isnât an increase in the crimes against the elderly corresponding to the growing proportion of the elderly in the population, the public sentiment is that there is an increase in this crimes. However, since perception is reality, the need to increase a sense of security has prompted the initiation of various projects to achieve this.
The Triad program
In 1987, the growing proportion of American elderly citizens prompted the Association of Retired Persons, the International chief of police, and the National sheriffs association to meet and discuss the concerns of crime prevention among the elderly. This meeting marked the birth of the Triad concept. Triads are formed from the cooperation between the police, the sheriffâs department, and the senior citizensâ organization. This framework works to prevent criminals from harming the senior citizens, and to train these citizens on crime prevention; this serves to allay their fears. Usually, an advisory council drawn from all three bodies is formed; this is known as The Seniors and Lawmen Together (SALT). The SALT council meets regularly to draw out strategies for preventing crime to the elderly and assess the progress of the triad program. Since the elderly will always be watched by familiar faces of their fellow retirees who are in constant contact with the police, the fear of criminal victimization will be addressed effectively. The co-operation between the law enforcement agencies and the citizens also covers a crucial personnel gap since policemen of the sheriff cannot be at all places all the time. Additionally, programs are formulated such that regular patrols are made around the neighborhood; particularly troublesome unsafe spots are also identified and an increased police presence arranged.
Community awareness programs
In most American cities, the ratio of law enforcement agents is two officers to one thousand agents. This ratio ensures that the forcesâ manpower is stretched thinly over the population. In this case, the various agencies may not have enough manpower to keep the elderly citizens under constant surveillance. This may draw some resentment from these quarters as a sense of abandonment may start to creep in since the officers will only be responding to emergency calls; that is when something has already gone wrong. The force therefore should have a special liaison officer dedicated to this section of the society permanently. This office will move around the community not only maintaining a constant police presence but also acting as a link between the senior citizens and the law enforcers. The link will allow the police force to create policies that are favorable to the needs of the elderly. The officer will also answer any questions that the citizens may be having about their safety. The subject of crime rate should be thoroughly discussed with the community; they must understand that they are the least likely group of people to be attacked by criminals; this may serve to dissipate some of the terror associated with the fear of criminal victimization in this age group.
Social support programs
In cases where the elderly person is under the primary care of another person, then the social service authorities should be at hand that the person is not undergoing any physical or mental abuse. Any allegations of violence against such a dependent person must be thoroughly investigated; whether at home or in an institution, and the perpetrators brought to book. Additionally, such victims should be assured and provided with optimum care in case the primary caregiver is incarcerated; this would give them more courage to report abuse and testify against the perpetrator in a court of law.
Specialized response units
In every law enforcement agency, there are special units that deal with a certain category of crime; for example, organized crime, narcotics, juvenile cases, rape, fraud, cyber-crime, et cetera. Similarly, specialized units to investigate and prevent criminal victimization of elderly persons should be formed in every agency. This, with time, will lead to a growth in expertise on how to tackle these vile acts. Additionally, special desks should be set up in police stations to exclusively handle reports with the elderly being involved; support professionals such as psychologists, social workers, and geriatricians should be on hand to handle the various complex aspects of dealing with the crime.
Victim recovery programs
A system to mitigate the physical, mental, and economic fallout of a criminal act (a senior citizen) should be created. Since it is difficult for an elderly person to recover from the effects of criminal victimization, ways of helping the person in this aspect can be formulated. The aspects of financial aid, social and psychological support; and optimum healthcare are paramount.
Other programs that would benefit the elderly are: The neighborhood watch program; this is charged with the responsibility to familiarize the senior citizens with the concept of neighborhood watch; this is basically where volunteers who are in contact with the police keep vigil in the neighborhoods. This is augmented by periodic police patrols. The home security program is charged with the job of educating the elderly of the steps they can take to make their surroundings including their homes safer and more secure. Personal awareness programs teach senior citizens how they can reduce their chances of becoming victims and the steps they can take to protect themselves against criminals. The fraud and scams program informs the citizens on how to spot and avoid con artists and fraudsters; the citizens can thus protect themselves from devastating losses of money.
Discussion
One conclusion that we can draw from the various victimology studies is that compared with the fluctuating nature of the overall crime rate, the level of crime against the elderly has either remained more or less constant or had reduced [Powell, et al, 2008]. Additionally, the elderly are a special group of victims since they are susceptible to types of crime peculiar to them. The effects of the crimes committed to them also have a more severe repercussion than it would on a younger victim; their physical, mental and financial situations make it harder for them to recover from the effects of victimization as it would take a younger victim.
Another issue that is peculiar to the elderly population is the fear of crime; compared to other age groups, the elderly have a higher level of fear of criminal victimization; this is a major issue since the value of life diminishes when one lives in a state of constant terror. The demographics of many developing countries are showing that more and more people are celebrating their 65th birthday every year; if these trends continue, then in the near future, a large part of the population will be elderly. Therefore, any issue that affects them in a particularly peculiar way will be a problem of a great magnitude due to the large representation of the victims in the population. The collective voicing of concern by this population inevitably has to shape the policy of the country about prevention and security. Already, some of the adjustments are being made by the law enforcement agencies. Some programs like the triad system go to show the power of the collective bargaining of the elderly and their security.
Conlusion
With the growing proportion of the elderly in the population and their ever-increasing apprehension on their individual and collective safety, the issue of criminal victimization of the elderly is on its way to becoming one of the big issues in the country. No doubt, this group is, in the future, going to be demanding the placement of measures to reassure them of their safety. The relevant authorities should be advised to prepare themselves to allocate more resources into this sector.
References
Bune Karen L. Criminal victimization can tarnish the Golden Years: The International Association of Chiefs of Police, Newsletter. 2009. Web.
Cook Fay Lomax, Wesley G. Skogan, Thomas D. Cook, and George E. Antunes (1978). Criminal Victimization of the Elderly: The Physical and Economic Consequences. The Gerontologist Vol.18, No. 4.
Cross Wayne M. Crimes against the elderly: Is the criminal justice system doing enough? 2009. Web.
Heap Vicky, (2008). Criminal victimization of the elderly: Have rates of crime against the elderly changed relative to overall crime rates? Internet Journal of Criminology ©.
Koichi Miyazawa (1990). Crime and victimization of the elderly in Japan: Criminology Australia, vol. 3, no. 1.
Powell Jason L., Azrini Wahidin. (2008): Understanding old age and victimization: a critical exploration: International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 28, Issue; 3/4, pp; 90-99. Barmarick Publications.
Thomas Paul, (1993). Crime and Older People: Victimization and Fear Amongst the Elderly: An examination of two community surveys: Office of Crime Statistics Attorney-General’s Dept. (S.A.)