NCJ Number
74531
Date Published
1977
Length
109 pages
Annotation
This report outlines the security planning and analysis techniques developed to prepare a security plan for the William Nickerson Junior Gardens public housing project in Los Angeles, Calif.
Abstract
Two major steps are involved in the security planning project. First the social and physical environment of the project are analyzed to determine factors that contribute to the vulnerability of residents. This Residential Vulnerability Analysis has three components: the household safety and security survey, the site security analysis, and the social vulnerability analysis. Findings from this analysis show that the victimization rate in Nickerson Gardens is high, and resident fear is correspondingly high. Many residents, in an effort to cope with the crime problem, are constraining their use of the environment. The residents lack a high degree of social cohesion. Residents' vulnerability is increased by several on-site features. The second part of the security planning project is a comprehensive security plan based on the vulnerability analysis, and including recommendations relating to site improvements, management, organization of residents, and improvement in the delivery of social and police services. Specific recommendations include subdividing Nickerson Gardens into clusters of 3 to 4 buildings with 24 to 38 households; restructuring resident organizations; making space private; redistributing recreational space; and improving social services with a crisis intervention program. The housing authority police should be placed under the Deputy Director of Management and have a communications link to Los Angeles police patrols. A security planning board should be set up, access and circulation controlled site lighting improved and a women's program and an elderly complex established. The total cost of the site improvements is estimated at $2,268,090. Illustrations of material include eight figures, seven photographs, and 14 tables.