Predicting Fatal Assault Among the Elderly Using the National Incident-Based Reporting System Crime Data

Author: Chu LD / Kraus JF
Publication: Homicide Studies
Topics: Age Group Criminology Homicide U.S./National
Keywords: Mortality assault elderly violence
Bibliographic information +

The authors describe the characteristics of homicide and assault victims and evaluate the use of victim and offender demographic characteristics, victim-offender relationship, weapons used, circumstances, and location of the incident to predict assault and fatality, using a model constructed from data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System during 1995 through 1999. They found that people aged 65 years and older a higher risk of death from assault than younger age groups. Assaults involving family/known persons were also associated with a higher fatality risk than incidents involving strangers.