Older Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence: Understanding Gaps in Systems and Community Responses

The Older Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence study, funded by the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor examines the availability of services, the access gaps, and the needs of older survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Texas is experiencing rapid population growth, especially among older population segments. As the aging population is at risk of further isolation and reduced access due to mobility and/or chronic illness, it is critical to develop multidisciplinary approaches to provide comprehensive services to older survivors. 

With consultation from the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) and the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), this project is surveying diverse groups of stakeholders within criminal justice and community-based systems who regularly treat or provide services to individuals over the age of 50. Feedback is being gathered from older survivors of domestic violence/sexual assault on their needs and service experiences and a secondary analysis is being conducted on the 2019 State Plan data. Data collected from this project will lead to the development of recommendations and the identification of promising practices to improve the response for the growing population of older adults impacted by interpersonal violence in Texas. 

Specific project questions include: 

• What services are available for older survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence in the state of Texas? 
• How do older survivors become aware of or connect with community-based services and the criminal justice system? 
• What are the experiences of older survivors in accessing and receiving services from criminal justice and community-based agencies? 

For more information, contact Leila Wood at [email protected]