NCJ Number
87478
Date Published
1981
Length
186 pages
Annotation
Rural crime in Texas is still occurring at lower rates than crime in urban areas, although the difference in rates appears to be declining.
Abstract
The study investigated differences in crime incidence, crime costs, tendency to report crime, and perceptions concerning future crime incidences between urban and rural residents of Texas. Data from 3,111 responses to 2 statewide victimization/attitude surveys were dichotomized according to rural or urban residential status and analyzed for significant differences. Results indicated that the rural Texas residents surveyed experienced significantly less victimization in major crime categories and less economic loss due to crime than did urban respondents. Rural residents reported crime more readily to the police than did urban residents. Rural residents anticipated robberies and thefts more readily than urban residents and anticipated burglaries and vehicle thefts significantly less readily. The study suggests that the most appropriate theoretical basis for the development of rural crime control policy would center around measures to assess the 'intelligence, access, and opportunity' factors for rural crime targets, and then to strengthen the target in terms of physical security, concealment, surveillance, and the promotion and reestablishment of cohesion in rural communities. A total of 39 tables, about 175 references, and survey instruments are provided. (Author abstract modified)