Although rural areas have lower rates of crime than other areas, they account for approximately 16 percent of all violent crime in the United States. In addition, the rape, robbery, and assault rates tripled in rural communities from 1965 to 1992. Perpetrators are more likely to be relatives or acquaintances than in urban areas. In many categories of violent crime, rural victims were more likely to report perpetrators used alcohol at the time of the crime than in either city or suburban areas. In addition, rural women have the same risk of domestic assault as urban and suburban women. Efforts to make a difference across all categories of violence include reducing alcohol and other drug abuse, increasing community collaboration and education, reducing poverty, increasing the availability of health care and safe places for victims, and restricting access to firearms. Other strategies can affect specific types of violence. A total of 88 strategies can be effective in preventing and intervening in specific violent behaviors, improving victim services, and reducing repeat offenses. Charts, index, and appended literature review matrix, methodological information, and 189 references