'Space' has a significant role in studies of interpersonal violence, also referred to as 'domestic violence' or, more inclusively, 'family violence': a term which encompasses violence that occurs within intimate relationships as well as violence which involves other members of a family structure. In sharp contrast to stereotypical images of the dangerous streets and the dangerous stranger (often associated with crime), family violence is characterised by the space in which it occurs, within the privacy and sanctity of the family home against and by those in the family unit.

The urban focus of crime- and street-based crime in particular- has for eons attracted the attention of criminologists. A geographic bias did not exist in all scholarly fields: anthropologists and geographers, for instance, gave greater consideration to issues and differences across locations (Donnermeyer 2014). Yet internationally, until the end of the 20th century, rural criminology "received little attention in the research literature beyond occasional descriptive glances" (Weisheit & Wells 1996, p 379; see also Barclay et al 2007; Coventry & Palmer 2008; Jobes et al 2000; Donnermeyer, Jobes & Barclay 2006). "One of the significant shortcomings of the criminological cannon", as Carrington, Donnermeyer and DeKeseredy (2014, p 464) identify, "has been its urban-centric bias': Internationally, Donnermeyer and DeKeseredy (2014, p 2) assert that "rural crime has ranked among the least studied social problems in criminology': Criminological literature has typically focused explicitly on the urban context or, at the very least, overlooked or downplayed contextual variances in geographic settings.

Women who live in rural or regional areas are more likely to experience family violence than women in metropolitan areas, but they often face significant challenges when seeking help or justice. A new report captures the experiences of these women and presents a comprehensive plan to overcome geographical barriers.

The urban focus of crime has dominated the attention of criminologists. Although images of idyllic, crime-free areas beyond the cityscape persist, there is scant academic consideration of the realities and variances of crime across regional, rural and remote Australia. Contributors to 'Locating Crime' explore the nexus between crime and space, examining the complexities that exist in policing, prosecuting and punishing crime in different zones. The various authors draw upon original knowledge and insight and utilise innovative research and an interdisciplinary approach to their work. The broad theme of 'Locating Crime' is centred on 'context, place and space', but several sub-themes emerge too. Contributors grapple with a number of issues: contextualisations of rurality; notions of 'access to justice'; the importance of building 'social capital'; the role of history; and of proactively addressing offending rates with crime prevention measures. This original research adds significantly to criminological understandings of crime in different spaces and offers novel insights of the impact upon victims and communities affected by crime in non-urban environments.