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The Role of Senior Citizens in Crime Prevention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Ezzat A. Fattah
Ezzat A. Fattah
Affiliation:
Department of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada.
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Abstract

Elderly people have a relatively low likelihood of becoming a victim of crime, compared with other age groups. Theft rather than violence constitutes the bulk of offences against them. Criminological research indicates that it is not vulnerability but lifestyle and the amount of time spent out of the home which are pre-disposing factors. However, when offences occur they have a disproportionately high personal impact. Ways of reducing both exposure and impact are discussed. These include (1) Hardening the targets (2) Creating more protective environments (3) Encouraging self-help (4) Entrancing awareness of crime and prevention techniques (5) Risk avoidance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1986 , pp. 471 - 480
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

NOTES

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