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Crime in a Rural Community

NCJ Number
139913
Author(s)
M O'Connor; D Gray
Date Published
1989
Length
204 pages
Annotation
This book is based on research that focused on the phenomenon of rural crime by examining the crime, policing, and crime-related activities in the community of Walcha, New South Wales (Australia).
Abstract
The first chapter presents an overview of rural crime in Australia, emphasizing the situation in New South Wales. Urban and rural crime and court statistics are compared. The second chapter analyzes crime in Walcha; an historical overview compares crime in Walcha in the 1860's, the 1960's, and the 1980's. An examination of the concepts of locality and community in the context of criminological research is followed by a socioeconomic description of the community of Walcha. Data extracted from interviews with 191 local residents are used to explore public perceptions of the seriousness and frequency of crime, citizens' fear of crime and the actions they take to protect themselves, and the extent of victimization among residents. The book discusses Walcha residents' images of criminals and how this image differs from the profile of a typical Australian criminal. Results of participant-observer research are used to discuss policing in a rural community. The authors place their findings within the field of criminological research and offer suggestions for future studies on rural crime.