searchfortruth.info > Homicide Studies > Elderly Victim

Elderly Victim

Crimes Against the Elderly 2003–2013

by

For the period 2003–13, elderly persons age 65 or older experienced nonfatal violent crime victimizations at lower rates (3.6 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 65 or older) than younger persons ages 12 to 24 (49.9 per 1,000), persons ages 25 to 49 (27.6 per 1,000), and persons ages 50 to 64 (15.2 per 1,000) (figure 1). Nonfatal violent crime includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Each year, the elderly accounted for approximately 2% of violence and 2% of serious violence, which equals 136,720 violent crimes and 47,640 serious violent crimes. However, the elderly made up about 21% of the population age 12 or older during this time period. The rate of property crime was also lower compared to younger persons.This report uses data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to provide detailed information on nonfatal violent victimization and property victimization against...

Read More!

Special Issue on Elderly Homicide

by

The topic of elderly homicide is important for two major reasons. First, nearly every publication on elderly homicide indicates that we are closing in on a very large increase in the elderly population. Second, while the number of elderly homicides is small, they have a number of characteristics that differentiate them from other age groups o victims.

The “Senior Tsunami” While it is discussed in more detail in the articles in this issue, what is called the “senior tsunami” is a very large increase in the elderly population because those born between 1945 and 1965—the baby boomers—will have turned 65 in 2011 (Brookings Institute, 2010; Frey, 2007).

What contributes to the increase even more is that the World War II generation born between 1936 and 1945—is currently part of the 65 and older group. According to Frey (2007, p. 1) just as the World War II generation, “plowed its way through the nation’s school systems, labor market, housing market, and stock market, it continually...

Read More!

The Elderly Victim of Homicide: An Application of the Routine Activities Approach

by

Abstract

This study attempts to resolve some of the disparity between lifestyle/routine activities theory and empirical findings concerning the elderly victim of homicide. Analysis of Canadian data leads to the conclusion that the elderly are disproportionately victims of theft-based homicide, a finding not consistent with the routine activity approach. A reformulation of the theory resolves the theory/data gap....

Read More!

Elderly Homicide in Chicago: a Research Note.

by

Abstract

There is a body of knowledge about elderly crime victims, but we know little about the characteristics of elderly perpetrators, especially of homicide. The few studies that have been published are based on small samples and are somewhat dated. In an examination of homicides committed in Chicago over a 31-year period, we compared cases involving perpetrators aged over 60 years (n = 443) with those involving younger perpetrators (n = 24,066). There were a number of significant differences. Elderly killers were more likely to be White and to commit suicide afterwards. Their victims were more likely to be spouses, females, and aged over 60 years. Inter-racial homicide was more common for younger offenders. The low number of homicides involving the elderly is explained by reference to routine activity theory....

Read More!