| Seniors: Crime |
The percentage of seniors 65 years old or older who experience a criminal attack.
COPS Program Aims to Decrease Elder Crime
Published Monday, August 31st, 2009
The elderly are the fastest growing segment of our society, and they are a large part of the country’s economy. So crime, especially financial crime, is a growing concern for the Department of Justice since seniors are targeted with alarming frequency and too often successful. Problems with data gathering on such crimes stems from legal definitions of “elderly”, the lack of a national repository of crime statistics like the FBI Uniform Crime Reports or the National Victimization survey specific to elder financial abuse, and the fact that fraud is under reported. A 1998 report conducted by the National Center for on Elder Abuse states that nearly one third of all elder abuse cases included financial exploitation. Also, a study by the US Senate Special Committee on Aging reported $40 billion in losses to telemarketing fraud.
The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has invested $2 million nationwide to create a program called the Triad, which partners with law enforcement and senior citizens to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Currently the rate of all types of crime against the elderly is at 2.5 victims per 1,000 persons 65 years old or older. The two highest type of crimes are simple assault and personal theft.
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Department of Health and Human Services: Administration on Aging, Elder Crime - http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Elder_Rights/Elder_Abuse/Elder_Abuse.asp
The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) has produced the Community Guide to Raise World Awareness on Adult Abuse Tool Kit. The Toolkit provides sample ideas and templates for activities and examples of materials, resources, proclamations, and messages.
Be Crime Smart - http://www.fbi.gov/becrimesmart.htm
Become more informed about protecting yourself and your family against criminal behavior.