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Rural Law Enforcement

NCJ Number
83422
Author(s)
A P Bristow
Date Published
1982
Length
205 pages
Annotation
This book describes law enforcement techniques for rural areas, examining characteristics that influence policing styles and methods.
Abstract
The most influential characteristics are the vast areas officers may be policing with little or no backup, rural residents' tendency to call on police officers for many types of assistance, and the high number of property crimes involving large dollar losses. Rural police have special sources of stress: they work in isolated situations and are often 'on call' 24 hours a day. These factors dominate any discussion of rural enforcement needs, crime problems, and routine patrol techniques. For instance, roadblocks are a much more common method for apprehending offenders in rural areas than in urban areas. Rural officers are also more likely to encounter fire and railroad emergencies, animal control problems, livestock theft, wildlife enforcement tasks, drunkenness in public parks, illegal distilleries, and illegal marihuana farming. An indepth presentation of these types of policing responsibilities describes special policing techniques with background information. The text also covers police responsibilities in functions unrelated to crime and law enforcement, such as search and rescue operations in mountainous, desert, and swampy areas. Policing rural waterways and dealing with aviation violations are also covered. The book considers health and medical hazards caused by weather conditions, water safety, stings and bites, poisonous plants, altitude sickness, and lightning and electrical shock. Photographs, line drawings, and an index are provided.

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