THE ISOLATION AND LACK OF MONEY COMMON TO MANY RURAL COURTS OFFER SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES AT A TIME WHEN THE COMING OF INDUSTRY TO NONURBAN AREAS IS SPAWNING RAPID GROWTH OF BOTH POPULATION AND CRIME. SOLUTIONS BASED ON URBAN EXPERIENCES ARE GENERALLY UNSATISFACTORY. THIS STUDY BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS CONTAINS CASES HISTORIES OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING MULTIUSE COURT/JAIL/COUNTY COURTHOUSE FACILITIES, USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO AUGMENT CORRECTIONS STAFF AND TO SUPPLY JUVENILE AND PROBATION SUPPORT FACILITIES, AND JURY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS OF DISTANCE. THE PROBLEMS OF CONVINCING STATE LEGISLATORS THAT DISTANCE AND TIME ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN RURAL COURT MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED. TABLES DOCUMENT THE CHANGES IN POPULATION AND CRIME IN THE RURAL U.S. FLOOR PLANS FOR REGIONAL COURT FACILITIES ARE GIVEN. APPENDIXES GIVE BACKGROUND PAPERS FROM A CONFERENCE ON RURAL COURTS, AN INDEX OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.