NCJ Number
28074
Date Published
1975
Length
77 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF 889 VICTIMIZATION SURVEY FIELD INTERVIEWS, SIX MONTHS OF OFFENSE AND OFFENDERS RECORDS KEPT BY NINE OHIO COUNTY SHERIFFS, AND QUESTIONNAIRES FROM MEMBERS OF 842 FARM BUREAU COUNCILS.
Abstract
THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS WERE ALSO DATA SOURCES FOR THIS REPORT. THIS YEAR LONG RURAL CRIME STUDY WAS INITIATED BY THE OHIO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASED CONCERN AMONG THEIR MEMBERS OVER THE RISING CRIME RATE AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS COMMITTING THE CRIMES. ANALYSIS OF STUDY RESULTS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: VANDALISM AND LARCENY THEFT WERE THE LEADING CRIMES IN RURAL OHIO; OFFENDERS WERE USUALLY WHITE MALE URBAN RESIDENTS UNDER 30; RESIDENTS ATTRIBUTED INCREASED CRIME RATES TO COURT LAXITY, LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, A BREAKDOWN IN FAMILY LIFE AND POPULATION GROWTH; LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE CRIMES COMMITTED ARE REPORTED; CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY HAD INCREASED 277 PERCENT BETWEEN 1963 AND 1973; AND 80 PERCENT OF RURAL PEOPLE BELIEVED THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE ADEQUATE TO EXCELLENT. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT RURAL CRIME WAS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN A NONFARM RESIDENTIAL AREA, IN SIGHT OF OTHER RESIDENTS, AND ON A WELL-TRAVELED ROAD. SUGGESTIONS FOR FIVE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. APPENDED ARE TABULAR DATA ON STUDY RESULTS AND PROPOSALS FOR THE FIVE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS.