It focuses on around 4,000 cases from adult probation offenders. Demographics show the difference between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of Illinois. There are many factors in deciding the causes of crime and how the offender was affected by his/her surroundings. By examining these facts and statistics, future probation and parole programs can target each and every offenders needs.
In rural cases or non-metropolitan crime is surprisingly not that much less than urban crime. Rural areas are faced with smaller businesses, which can lead to considerable amounts of unemployment. Lack of resources for member of the community can also be a major disadvantage. Urban and metropolitan areas deal with offenses like street crime and gang violence. Cities usually have more employment and booming opportunities, although they still deal with neighborhoods full of poverty. .
When dealing with these adult offenders that enter the program, rural officers deal with the offender on a more personal basis. Being familiar with their clients, officers and enforcement agencies deal with little privacy of their cases. Urban cases deal with more specialization and policy, and is completely different that non-metropolitan. Offenders of both rural and urban areas by survey are males, low income, and usually on public assistance. As seen in studies of rural areas the offenders and younger and unemployed. The crimes committed also differ somewhat between the different areas. They are misdemeanors and felonies and can be put into around 16 different categories. They can also be put into 5 broader categories that involve violent offenses, property drugs, D.U.I's, and other crimes. Other crimes can consist of traffic offenses that are only misdemeanors. The highest offenses in the metropolitan areas are those associated with drugs and D.U.I's. The non-metropolitan areas were offenses such as D.U.I's and the other offenses that consisted of minor traffic violations.