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POLICE AND THE ELDERLY

NCJ Number
60259
Editor(s)
A P GOLDSTEIN, W J HOYER, P J MONTI
Date Published
1979
Length
126 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK FOR POLICE OFFICERS PRESENTS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REDUCTION OF CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND AMELIORATION OF SENIOR CITIZEN'S FEAR OF CRIME.
Abstract
IF POLICE ARE TO BE EFFECTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE ELDERLY, THEY MUST BE AWARE OF THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITIES OF BEING OLD IN AMERICA. BY UNDERSTANDING THE ELDERLY'S FEAR OF CRIME, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP METHODS FOR REDUCING THIS FEAR AND CARRYING OUT SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. POLICE MUST PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF THE MINORITY ELDERLY. CRIME PREVENTION IS THE BEST METHOD OF REDUCING CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY; THEREFORE THE POLICE SHOULD WORK WITH THE ELDERLY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ELDERLY ARE VICTIMIZED BY CRIME, POLICE SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO CALM THE VICTIMS AND ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE THROUGH SUCH SERVICES AS VICTIM COMPENSATION AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS. SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED FOR HELPING SENIOR CITIZENS REDUCE THEIR FEAR OF CRIME BY FEELING IN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES, AND FOR INSTRUCTING POLICE ON EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR WORKING WITH THE ELDERLY THROUGH A STRUCTURED LEARNING PROGRAM. TABLES, FIGURES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED IN SOME OF THE CHAPTERS. FOR SPECIFIC CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK SEE NCJ 60260-60267. (KCP)