The data contained in the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report show an increase in rural crime rates between 1972 and 1978. Since delinquency has been thought of as an urban phenomenon, most criminological theory has been developed in urban areas. However, the geographic isolation and low population of rural areas means that the juvenile justice system is much different in urban and suburban setting. In addition, there are differences in the character of juvenile crime and the attitude of the population in urban and rural areas. Rural areas lack social service resources, specialization, and a wide range of juvenile justice programs and facilities advocated by national standard-setting groups. In contradistinction to metropolitan areas, less serious property offenses and vandalism constitute the rural juvenile delinquency problem. The major issue to be tackled in the administration of rural juvenile justice is the widespread jailing of youth. Jailing for minor offenses expresses the importance of 'law and order' in traditionally conservative rural communities. Jailing of status offenders or abused children is caused by the lack of other families. Both the police and courts are already involved with nonintervention, diversion, and dispute settlement for status offenders and minor delinquent offenders on an informal basis, but more efforts should be made in that direction. Home detention, regionalized detention and shelter care are among the options available to rural areas. To deal with juvenile crime in rural areas, a rural model of criminal justice should be developed, based on the cohesiveness and strengths of rural communities. Tabular data and footnotes containing references are included.