THE NATIONAL PROGRAM ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE ELDERLY (PCJE), PART OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IS DESIGNED TO TEST WAYS TO CURTAIL THE VICTIMIZATION OF THE ELDERLY AND TO IMPROVE SOCIETY'S RESPONSE AFTER A CRIME HAS OCCURRED. AT THE LOCAL LEVEL PCJE COORDINATES SEVEN DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IN SIX MAJOR CITIES--CHICAGO, NEW YORK, NEW ORLEANS, LOS ANGELES, MILWAUKEE, AND WASHINGTON, D.C.--ALL OF WHICH ARE IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE RATE AND IMPACT OF CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY. SIX OF THE PROJECTS CENTER AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH HAVE HIGH CRIME RATES AND HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF SENIOR CITIZENS, WHILE THE CHICAGO PROGRAM IS CITY-WIDE. THE PROJECTS IN NEW YORK, NEW ORLEANS, AND MILWAUKEE ARE SPONSORED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES WITH FEDERAL FUNDING FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. THE OTHER FOUR PROJECTS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING. THE PROJECTS HAVE FOUR COMMON OBJECTIVES: (1) TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND THE FEAR OF CRIME AMONG THE ELDERLY; (2) TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE POSTCRIME ASSISTANCE FOR ELDERLY VICTIMS; (3) TO STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY TO PROTECT ITS OLDER CITIZENS; AND (4) TO HELP DEVELOP PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES TO SERVE THE ELDERLY AND PREVENT VICTIMIZATION. ALL THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES AND OFFER CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND MOST HAVE ALSO BEEN SPONSORING RESIDENTIAL SECURITY SURVEYS AND PROVIDING ADVOCACY FOR PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES WHICH WILL REFLECT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM OF CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS ARE COORDINATED AND ASSISTED BY THE PCJE, WHOSE EVALUATION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE LEAA, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING. THE EVALUATION EFFORT IS INTENDED TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF THE FOUR COMMON GOALS, WHILE NATIONAL RESEARCH IS ATTEMPTING TO FILL EXISTING INFORMATION GAPS WITH A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE TREATMENT OF ELDERLY VICTIMS. THE INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE DATA ON PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH, AS WELL AS TRAINING MATERIALS, LISTS OF RESOURCE PERSONS, PROJECT DIRECTORIES, AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES. PHOTOS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. (KBL)