RESEARCH INDICATES THE FOLLOWING: MOST RURAL CRIME IS AGAINST PROPERTY; A LARGE PROPORTION OF CRIMES OCCUR AT RURAL URBAN CENTERS; THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED CRIMES ARE BURGLARY AND VANDALISM; VANDALISM IS A YOUTH PHENOMENON; AND RURAL RESIDENTS REPORT LESS THAN HALF OF ALL CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO PRACTICE SIMPLE HOME SECURITY AND OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES. RURAL POLICE ARE HANDICAPPED IN CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS BY THE SMALL SIZE OF RURAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND LARGE SIZE OF JURISDICTION AREAS. CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES SHOULD TAKE VICTIMIZATION FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT AND SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH A SHORT-RUN STRATEGY, SUCH AS REINFORCED PATROLS IN PROBLEM AREAS, AND A LONG-RUN STRATEGY, SUCH AS INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND BETTER TRAINING. OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS INCLUDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL CODES; PERSONAL, HOME, NEIGHBORHOOD, OR TOWN SECURITY; AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. RURAL AREAS COULD ALSO USE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION WHICH WOULD MAKE THE INITIATION, PLANNING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITIZENS' GROUPS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER COULD EXERCISE INFORMAL PREVENTION BY UTILIZING THE INHERENT STRENGTH AND COHESIVENESS OF MANY SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.