Abstract
The vulnerability of older persons to murder is investigated. Data on all homicide victims sixty years of age or older in North Carolina during two time frames, 1972–1973 and 1976–1977, form the basis for the analysis.
Available evidence for the U.S. indicates that the elderly are considerably less prone to criminal victimization than are younger persons. This is particularly the case for aggravated assault. Dussich and Eichman have posited that the relative low visibility of the elderly, due to social isolation and lack of mobility, make them less vulnerable to crimes against the person [1].
However this study finds that: 1) in the U.S. murder among the aged is rising faster than any other age group, 2) in North Carolina the sole rise in homicide is among the elderly, and 3) sharpest increases are noted among older black women, white women and white men. An exception to this trend are black men, previously the highest risk group of older adults, who showed a decline in homicide victimization.
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