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Rural
Crime Facts
Overview
The
task
of
assembling rural crime
facts
is
complicated
by
the
many
definitions of
rural
that
abound,
and
the
tendency
for most
agencies
to
aggregate
data
in
ways
that are
difficult
to
apply
to
local
communities.
Similar difficulties
are
inherent
in
the
word “crime” which
often
is
broadly
construed
to
encompass
a wide
range
of
violent
behaviors.
The most frequently cited source of crime statistics
is the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which summarizes
information from the Uniform Crime Reports and the
National Crime Victimization Survey. The Sourcebook
of Criminal Justice Statistics also compiles tables
from these and other sources in an annual publication.
Facts pertinent to rural crime are also sprinkled through
a variety of other data sources, and often need to
be teased out of reports written for purposes other
than exploring rural differences.
The overall impression when looking at individual reports
across different data sources is that rural crime and
violence is a serious and complicated problem that
demands a specialized approach. The seriousness of
the problem is evident from the failure of rural areas
to benefit to in the same degree from declining crime
rates as urban areas. The complicating features of
addressing rural safety issues arise from the fact
that although rural areas are structurally different
from urban areas, there is considerable variation among
rural communities.
Thus, even when considering an overall view of rural
crime, the specific causes and consequences of crime
for any individual community are likely to be unique.
Rural Crime Facts
- The
number of total arrests in rural counties numbered
848,968 in 1998, reported by 1,837 different law
enforcement agencies, covering an estimated population
of 20 million residents.(1)
- The
majority of arrestees in rural counties were white
(79%) and over the age of 18 (88%).(1)
- The
falling crime rate has benefited urban and suburban
areas more than rural areas. From 1993-1998, there
has been less of a decrease in violent and property
crime rates in rural areas than in urban and suburban
areas, though overall violent crime rates are still
lower in rural areas.(2)
- Rural
violent crime victims are less likely to be victimized
by a stranger than urban or suburban victims. For
example, the percentage of homicides involving
an intimate is greater in rural areas (21%) than
in large cities (7%).(3)
- Despite
an overall decrease in homicide trends, most of
the decrease has occurred in large cities with
rural areas experiencing relatively little change
in homicide prevalence.3
- The
most common location for rural victims of violent
crime was their homes (18%). For urban and suburban
areas, the most common areas were open places such
as on the street, or in public transportation.(2)
- The
percentage of rural violent crime offenders perceived
to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (35%)
was higher than the percentages of urban and suburban
offenders (29%).(2)
- Rural
violent offenders are less likely (8%) than suburban
(9%) or urban (12%) violent offenders to use a
firearm.(2)
- Rural
violent offenders are less likely (8%) than suburban
(9%) or urban (12%) violent offenders to use a
firearm.(2)
- Rural
residents of races other than black or white were
twice as likely to be victims of violent crime
as were black or white rural residents. Specifically,
the rates of victimization were: 31% white; 34%
black; 68% other. Additionally, rural residents
headed by persons of other races were victims of
property crime at higher rates (34%) than black
(20%) or white (21%) households.(2)
- Between
1993-1998, 90% of the rural population was white
and whites were perceived to have committed 72%
of rural violent victimizations. Although blacks
comprised 8% of the rural population, they were
perceived to have committed 16% of rural violent
crimes.(2)
Sources
(1) Sourcebook
of Criminal Justice Statistics (1999).
(2) Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000).
Urban, Suburban, and Rural Victimization, 1993-1998.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. NCJ 182031.
(3) Bureau
of Justice Statistics (2000). Homicide Trends in the
U.S.: Trends by City Size.
State Resources for Rural Crime Facts
Each state has a Statistical Analysis Center, a federally
designated agency that has responsibility for collecting
criminal justice data. There is a good deal of variance
in the type and amount of data collected, mostly dependent
upon the size of the state, but often these centers
are the only place where one may get county and community
level crime data. For more information on how to contact
state Statistical Analysis Centers and view relevant
publications visit the Justice
Research and Statistic Association.
Other Sites for Related Rural Crime Facts
Bureau
of Justice Statistics
Childtrends
Inter-university
Consortium for Political and Social Research
National
Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect
United
Nations Crime and Justice Information Network
U.S.
Census Bureau
You can view the Rural Crime Facts fact sheet online.
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