NCJ Number
27281
Date Published
1974
Length
49 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM A 1974 GROUP QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF MEMBERS OF THE 1400 COUNCILS ON THEIR PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD RURAL CRIME AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISING CRIME RATE.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE COMPLETED BY 842 FARM BUREAU COUNCILS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 11,000 OHIOANS LIVING IN 84 OF THE STATE'S 88 COUNTIES. VANDALISM TOPPED THE LIST OF THE BIGGEST CRIME PROBLEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, FOLLOWED BY THEFT, BURGLARY, DRUGS, TRAFFIC, AND DRUNKEN DRIVING, IN THAT ORDER. YOUTH WERE VIEWED AS THE PRINCIPAL GROUP COMMITTING CRIMES. THREE OUT OF FOUR COUNCILS REPORTED A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN CRIME IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WITH A SHIFT IN THE TYPES OF CRIMES COMMITTED TO DRUG-RELATED CRIMES AND THEFT. LAXITY OF COURTS AND A LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT COUPLED WITH A BREAKDOWN IN FAMILY LIFE WERE SEEN AS MAJOR CAUSES OF THE RISING CRIME RATE. EIGHTY-NINE PERCENT OF THE RESPONDING COUNCILS FELT LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD BE IMPROVED IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH (IN THE ORDER MENTIONED) STRONGER LAWS, BETTER COURT SYSTEMS, MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT MANPOWER, AND MORE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT CITIZENS COULD HELP TO IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT BY REPORTING CRIMES, COOPERATING WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND INFORMING JUDGES AND OTHERS OF THEIR CONCERNS OVER LENIENCY. NARRATIVE, TABULAR, AND GRAPHIC DATA PRESENT THE ITEM-BY-ITEM RESPONSES TO THIS SURVEY. SELECTED DISCERNIBLE PATTERNS ARE NOTED BY REGION AND TYPE OF COMMUNITY. A COPY OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)