NCJ Number
177358
Journal
The Compiler Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: Spring 1998 Pages: 4-16
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This compilation of articles covers challenges to rural law enforcement in Illinois, trends and future issues in rural crime, victim services in rural areas, and rural prosecutors.
Abstract
Geography and resource availability are primary characteristics that distinguish rural law enforcement efforts from those in urban areas. By nature of their relative isolation, rural areas are more likely to have problems with burglary and theft than with armed robbery and assault. Moreover, because rural law enforcement agencies typically have more limited resources than those in urban areas, cooperation between State and local police departments in crime prevention is crucial. Further, violent crime is down in Illinois but some property crime is up in rural areas. Although certain characteristics of rural settings complicate the prediction of rural crime trends, factors likely to influence these trends include economic, demographic, and technological issues. Providing victim services in sparsely populated rural areas is also a difficult task, one that requires coordination between multiple agencies in remote areas. The distance between victims and service providers is the most common barrier in rural counties. The findings of a study of the unique role of prosecutors in rural areas are presented that demonstrate the close relationships between citizens and officials in small rural counties, difficulties related to cooperation between sheriffs and police agencies, the impact of sentencing laws on rural county resources, and the existence of militias. 1 reference, 3 figures, and 2 photographs