Quick Answers...
Do older adults (65+) have higher rates of criminal victimization than adults under 65?
No. Although the media may leave the impression that older
adults are a major target of violent crime, annual data from
the national Crime Victimization Surveys consistently
indicate that violent crime, personal theft, and household
victimization rates for persons aged 65 and older are the
lowest of any age group. Data indicate that this holds true
for virtually all categories of criminal victimization:
rape, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and
personal larceny without contact. Only for the category of
personal larceny with contact (e.g., purse snatching and
pocket picking) is the victimization rate higher for persons
aged 65 and over compared to those aged 25 to 64.
Nevertheless, the health and financial consequences may be
greater for the older victim.
Linda Breytspraak, Center on Aging Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Last update: Monday, July 07, 2008