The study focuses on towns or nontown areas having a population of less than 2,500. Victimization data indicate that vandalism is the primary rural crime problem, followed by theft. Uniform Crime Reports data, which does not include vandalism, shows larceny to be the main offense in the rural areas of the State. Victimization and offical crime data indicate that assault is the only crime against persons that is comparable in frequency to some types of property crime. The crime rate differs among counties and between rural town and rural nontown areas within the counties, with nontown areas experiencing higher rates for all crimes surveyed. Rural crime is not as high as the urban crime rate but still inflicts an estimated about cost of $4.4 million. The typical offender in rural South Dakota is a young (15-25 years-old) white male with little if any prior criminal involvement. A random mail survey of rural residents in a six-county area found that most rural residents believe that the crime prevention measures of locking doors and windows, lighting, firearms possession, and the use of watchdogs are effective. Rural police believe that patrolling and sufficiently prompt response times are effective in crime prevention. Crime prevention recommendation are in the areas of a general approach to improved crime prevention, the focus of crime prevention efforts, organizing for crime prevention, and the future of crime prevention. The appendixes provide an adult offender summary form, the crime prevention questionnaire and transmittal letter, and a list of the names and addresses of members of the South Dakota Rural Development Advisory Council. Tabular data are provided.