THE REPORT IS BASED ON DATA FROM RESEARCH STUDIES AND SURVEYS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, ON VICTIMIZATION DATA FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN CONNECTICUT, ON A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE, AND ON REPORTS OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND IN CONNECTICUT. THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND THE IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION ON THE ELDERLY IS COMPARED TO THE SITUATION FOR OTHER AGE GROUPS. CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS TARGETED SPECIFICALLY AT THE ELDERLY ARE ASSESSED IN TERMS OF THEIR STRUCTURE AND EFFECTIVENESS. PROBLEM AREAS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN CONNECTICUT IF THE CRIME-RELATED PROBLEMS OF THE STATE'S ELDERLY CITIZENS ARE TO BE ALLEVIATED ARE IDENTIFIED, AND STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS ARE SUGGESTED. THE STRATEGIES HAVE TO DO WITH IMPROVING RESIDENTIAL SECURITY, STRENGTHENING LAWS AND PROGRAMS, BECOMING MORE SENSITIZED TO THE NEEDS OF OLDER PERSONS, AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY VICTIMS OF CRIME. POLICYMAKERS ARE REMINDED THAT THE PROPORTION OF OLDER PERSONS IN THE POPULATION IS INCREASING AND THAT, DUE TO BETTER EDUCATION, INCREASED POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT, AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, THE ELDERLY CITIZENS OF THE FUTURE ARE LIKELY TO EXERT CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC POLICY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OLDER PERSONS BE VIEWED NOT AS THE SOURCE OF A VICTIMIZATION PROBLEM BUT AS A RESOURCE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROGRAMS SURVEYED ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)