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LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OLDER PERSONS - A TRAINING MANUAL

NCJ Number
47598
Author(s)
G SUNDERLAND; C MCDONALD; M COXSUNDERLAND G
Date Published
1977
Length
670 pages
Annotation
A TRAINING MANUAL TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN DEALING WITH OLDER PERSONS IS DESIGNED FOR OPTIMUM USE WITHIN EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE PREMISE UNDERLYING THE COURSE IS THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS OF AGING WILL IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OLDER PERSONS. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE IS INCLUDED TO ENHANCE THE USAGE OF THE MANUAL. THE LESSONS ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO BE EXTRACTED FROM THE TEXT IF A TRAINING PROGRAM CANNOT UTILIZE ALL OF THE MATERIALS. THE FIVE MAJOR MODULES OF THE CURRICULUM ARE AN OVERVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE ELDERLY, VICTIMIZATION OF THE ELDERLY, THE PROCESS OF AGING, THE OLDER PERSON AS A VOLUNTEER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND COMMUNICATING WITH OLDER PERSONS. THE PATTERN OF ELDERLY VICTIMIZATION IS ANALYZED SO AS TO PROTECT OLDER PERSONS FROM ACTUAL THREATS WHILE ENABLING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ALLEVIATE EXAGGERATED FEARS THAT MAY LIMIT AN AGED PERSON'S LIFESTYLE UNNECESSARILY. THE SENSORY PERCEPTIONS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF THE AGING PROCESS ARE EXPLAINED, AND THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ELDERLY PERSONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS CONSIDERED. SINCE OLDER PERSONS ARE OFTEN STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, AN APPROACH TOWARD IMPLEMENTING ELDERLY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED. A GLOSSARY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, STUDENT DIGEST, AND AN ASSORTMENT OF VISUAL AIDS ARE PROVIDED. FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE MANUAL, SEE NCJ-47597. (TAO)