Elder Americans have consistently reported a lower risk of criminal victimization for most other offenses than do adolescents and younger adults; however, certain types of financial exploitation disproportionately impact elders. As the proportion of the elder population grows at a faster rate than other age cohorts, incidents of financial exploitation among this age group are expected to continue to increase and further challenge the American ideal of retirement. In addition, it is anticipated that the baby boomer generation will be wealthier than any preceding generation of retired Americans. Declines in physical and mental capabilities and significant life changes experienced by many elder citizens, coupled with the perception of wealth, have made this population a prime target for financial exploitation. Although the number of reported cases of elder financial exploitation has been increasing, the associated theoretical and empirical research on the risk factors, protective factors, and circumstances remains limited. By integrating elements from several prominent criminological theories, this dissertation explores the utility of using the components of a life course perspective to explain patterns of financial exploitation vulnerability among a sample of retirement community residents. Prior research and official data from reported cases of elder financial exploitation give limited attention to the dynamics of changing life circumstances that may have an impact on or precipitate incidents of financial exploitation. Using tenants from the life course perspective, this study explains how age-graded changes influence elders’ vulnerability for experiencing financial exploitation. This dissertation will use data on reported incidents of financial exploitation made to a Florida county sheriff department and Seniors vs. Crime (a primarily volunteer-based organization affiliated with the Florida Attorney General’s office that provides investigation and mediation services to elders who believe they have been financially exploited). The study will also use qualitative data from focus group discussion sessions and in-depth individual interviews with residents of the largest active-living retirement community in the United States. The findings from this study highlight the significance of identifying and understanding the relationship between age-graded life events and circumstances that may influence an elderly individual’s vulnerability for financial exploitation. The study’s limitations and policy implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions are made for future research. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2017. / June 9, 2017. / Elder Financial Exploitation, Life Course, Victimization / Includes bibliographical references. / Thomas G. Blomberg, Professor Directing Dissertation; Janet Kistner, University Representative; Kevin A. Beaver, Committee Member; Jennifer Copp, Committee Member; Eric A. Stewart, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_552034 |
| Contributors | Brancale, Julie Nicole (authoraut), Blomberg, Thomas G. (professor directing dissertation), Kistner, Janet (university representative), Beaver, Kevin M. (committee member), Copp, Jennifer E. (committee member), Stewart, Eric Allen (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Criminology and Criminal Justice (degree granting college), College of Criminology and Criminal Justice (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (187 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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