Should Criminals Who Target Seniors Be Sentenced More Harshly?

Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that a number of states, including Arkansas, Michigan, and Iowa, have now passed legislation that imposes more severe penalties on people and companies that victimize senior citizens with financial scams. In essence, these states are levying “enhanced penalties” when the victim of a financial crime is over the age of 65. In the case of Arkansas, the penalty is double the normal fine, which strikes me as a pretty serious deterrent.

I have long felt that criminals and scam-artists who target older adults should receive more severe sentences. This goes beyond expression of concern and sympathy for elderly crime victims—there is a compelling public policy justification for treating elder-crime as a different class of infraction.

Older adults are systematically victimized by criminals, whether through violent crimes, financial scams, or even online. Many criminals hope to take advantage of the physical frailty, social isolation, or cognitive limitations of some seniors, and they disproportionately focus on elderly individuals when they commit crimes. The result? More social isolation, depression, and distrust among seniors, leading to serious declines in quality of life and physical and mental health.

The Journal article cited several sources who were opposed to the increased penalties, but I think seniors deserve extra protection, and that criminals who target older individuals on purpose should face stronger sanctions and deterrents. New York State was not mentioned among the states where these enhanced penalties are being considered.

What do we have to do to get our public officials in New York State to focus on this issue?