Rural and urban communities exist on a continuum, the polarities of which depend on sociocultural and economic characteristics. Rural communities are small in size and population, they are more culturally homogeneous than urban communities, and their economy is characterized by a relatively simple division of labor. Further, rural areas are characterized by regional diversity. The author believes social conditions rather than biological or psychological influences provide the most accurate basis for understanding violence directed at women by their male partners. The concept of rural patriarchy and the argument that rural social life is governed by a strong collective conscience that acts as an informal social control mechanism are also important in understanding rural woman battering. Even though crime and violence are popularly viewed as being much less prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas, rural citizens share many of the same concerns of urban citizens about crime and violence. Rural areas do tend to be less criminogenic than urban areas, despite their higher levels of poverty, and public sphere violent crime is indeed lower in rural areas. The nature of rural policing and the criminal justice system response to the needs of rural battered women are discussed. 9 notes