ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CRIME PREVENTION

• NCJ Number: 52149
• Author(s): R S LAYMON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 12 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER EXAMINES EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CRIME THROUGH VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT EMPHASIZE NATURAL SURVEILLANCE AND CITIZEN COOPERATION.

Abstract

TWO APPROACHES TO THE USE OF RESOURCES IN COMBATING CRIME ARE PREVENTION AND CONTROL. BECAUSE CRIME PREVENTION CAN BE BROAD AND COMPLEX, STRATEGIES ARE DIRECTED MORE TOWARD CONTROLLING THE SEVERITY AND REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME. TARGET HARDENING OR MECHANICAL INTERVENTION IS ONE SUCH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STRATEGY. RESEARCH IN THIS AREA HAS FOCUSED UPON THE SPECIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY BE TRANSLATED INTO MODEL BUILDING CODES STRESSING SECURITY. ANOTHER STRATEGY PROPOSES AN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN WHICH FACILITATES NATURAL SURVEILLANCE OF THE TARGET AREA, E.G., INCREASED STREET LIGHTING, AND ENCOURAGES AREA CITIZENS TO REPORT CRIMES. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATURAL SURVEILLANCE AND CITIZEN ATTITUDES WAS DEMONSTRATED IN A NEW YORK CITY HOUSING PROJECT, AND AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT'S SUCCESS A THEORY OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE WAS DEVELOPED. THIS THEORY, WHICH ENCOMPASSES BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS, IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES: (1) THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF DEFINING PERCEIVED ZONES OF TERRITORIAL INFLUENCE, (2) PHYSICAL DESIGN CAN PROVIDE SURVEILLANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR AGENTS, (3) GEOGRAPHICAL JUXTAPOSITION WITH 'SAFE ZONES' CAN AFFECT THE SECURITY OF ADJACENT AREAS, AND (4) THE PERCEPTION OF A PROJECT'S EFFECTIVENESS AND UNIQUENESS CAN BE INFLUENCED BY DESIGN. A STRATEGY WHICH EMPHASIZES INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOCUSES ON ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN OF COURTS TO IMPROVE SECURITY AND OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR MORE HUMANE TREATMENT. AT THE TIME OF THIS STUDY, LEAA WAS SUPPORTING A MAJOR PROGRAM WHICH EXTENDED RESEARCH ON PUBLIC HOUSING INTO THE ENVIRONMENTS OF SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION CENTERS, COMMERCIAL AREAS, AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)