in the line of duty over the past decade and a half have escalated, “Violent crime in rural counties increased 53% in the fourteen years from 1983 to 1997…the rate of law enforcement officers killed in rural counties and towns was greater than that of large urban areas during the period of 1988 to 1997” (Rural Law Enforcement 1). Robberies, violent crimes such as rape, and motor vehicle theft have all increased in rural areas over the past decade and violent crimes have dropped in urban areas while escalating in rural areas. Part of the reason for this is urban sprawl, whereby criminals from urban areas spread into surrounding rural areas. Another reason is the increasing use of technology by criminals which often erases j
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