“Farmers' Perceptions of Agricultural Crime in Rural America”

• In Event: Advances in Rural Criminology: Cross-National Perspectives on Rural Criminology

Abstract

Agricultural crime in the United States is financially and emotionally costly for farmers and their broader communities. As crime in the farming community is understudied, this research aims to identify the nature of victimisation, especially theft, experienced by US farmers and the criminal justice response to farm crime. To address this issue, farmers in two of the top agriculture-producing states – Texas and Nebraska were surveyed online. Respondents provide information on their farm victimisation, perceptions of crime, crime reporting behaviour, perceptions of police and the criminal justice system, and crime prevention methods utilized. Findings indicate that victimisation among US farmers is high. Future research and policy recommendations based on the results are provided.

Author

• Jessica Rene Peterson, Southern Oregon University