NCJ Number
72707
Date Published
1976
Length
260 pages
Annotation
This study was designed to determine the extent and nature of crime in Ohio's State parks as indicated by park visitors, managers, rangers, and offense and offender reports.
Abstract
The hypothesis was that positive relationships would be found between the number of crimes and the number of park visitors, the locations of parks relative to those of cities with 50,000 or more residents, the number of acres of land in each park, the percent of time that park rangers and managers spend in law enforcement, and the number of campsites in a park. Crimes which were considered included crimes against persons and property, drug abuse, and traffic violations. Respondents' opinions on issues related to crime and law enforcement practices were also surveyed. Questionnaires were returned by 87.4 percent of the 151 rangers at 62 parks and by all 59 available managers. Interviews were conducted with 419 randomly selected vistors at 33 parks. Offense and offender forms were completed by park managers and rangers for offenses which occurred from May 25 to September 25, 1975. Reported offenses totaled 2,839, of which 1,420 were criminal offenses. The results were tested for interrelationships and significance. The findings showed that the number of crimes was (1) slightly related to the number of visitors: (2) strongly and positively related to the distance of parks from major cities; (3) strongly and positively related to the number of acres in parks for crimes against property; (4) slightly related to the percent of time managers and rangers spent in law enforcement; and (5) strongly and positively related to the number of campsites for crimes against property, drug abuse, and traffic violations. Demographic data on visitors' and respondents' opinions are also presented. Related literature is reviewed. Data tables, 31 references and appendixes containing questionnaires and offender-offense forms, information on the parks, and supplementary tables are included.