ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST BJS SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000 202/307-0784 PEOPLE 65 YEARS OLD AND OLDER LESS LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME THAN YOUNGER U.S. RESIDENTS WASHINGTON, D.C. People 65 and older are substantially less likely to be violent crime victims than are younger men and women, according to a new report published today by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Each year from 1992 through 1997 there were 5 violent crimes per 1,000 U.S. residents 65 years old or older, less than a tenth the rate of 56 crimes per 1,000 of those age 12 through 64, according to the BJS National Crime Victimization Survey. The only crime category that affected the elderly at about the same rate as most others (except those ages 12-24) was personal theft, which includes purse snatching and pocket picking. Of all victimizations of older people during the seven-year period, 92 percent were property crimes, compared to 72 percent for people under 65 years old. During the study period there was an average of 2.5 million property crimes (household burglary, motor vehicle theft and household theft) against the elderly per year, 46,090 purse snatchings or pocket pickings, 165,330 non-lethal violent crimes (rape, robbery, and aggravated and simple assaults) and 1,000 murders. Although the elderly as a whole experienced generally lower crime rates than younger people, there were differences within the elderly population. Higher rates were experienced by blacks when compared with whites, by Hispanics when compared with non-Hispanics, and by elderly men compared with elderly women. Among households with an elderly head of household, property crime rates were higher for those having annual incomes of over $50,000. These ethnic, gender and income patterns for the elderly population are similar to those that have been found for other age groups in other BJS studies. Other findings from the study include-- * A weapon of some type was more likely to be used in violent crimes against the elderly, compared to younger age groups. * Of the 165,330 elderly persons who were victims of non-fatal violence each year between 1992 and 1997, about 22 percent were injured, and about 6 percent received treatment of some type at a hospital. * Relatives, intimates and other persons well known to the victim committed about one-fifth of the violence against people 65 years old or older. * Crimes against the elderly were more likely to occur in or near their homes and in the day rather than at night, compared to crimes against younger victims. * Differences in lifestyle may account in part for when and where these crimes occurred. About 22 percent of elderly violence victims reported that they never went out at night for entertainment, shopping or other activities compared to about 3 percent of victims under age 50. Although people 65 or older made up 15 percent of the population, they accounted for 7 percent of all victims of crimes measured in the survey. In 1995 about 4 percent of the elderly about 1.4 million men and women lived in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities which are not covered by the victimization survey. The report, "Crimes Against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1992-97" (NCJ- 176352) , was written by BJS statistician Patsy A. Klaus. Single copies may be obtained from the BJS fax-on-demand system by dialing 301/519-5550, listening to the complete menu and selecting document number 182. Or call the BJS clearinghouse number: 1-800-732-3277. Fax orders for mail delivery to 410/792-4358. The BJS Internet site is: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ Additional criminal justice materials can be obtained from the Office of Justice Programs homepage at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov # # # BJS00029 After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301/983-9354