NCJ Number
49326
Journal
PLANNING Dated: (FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 10-13
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A CORRELATION EXISTS BETWEEN PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE FEAR OF CRIME; CITY PLANNERS HAVE FOUND A COMMUNITY APPROACH UTILIZING CITIZENS SUPERIOR TO HARD, FORTRESS LIKE PLANNING.
Abstract
LEAA TOOK A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION PROBLEMS IN HARTFORD, CONN., PROVIDING $500,000 TO THE HARTFORD INSTITUTE, A NONPROFIT INSTITUTION, TO STUDY WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT CRIME PREVENTION. AFTER AN 18-MONTH STUDY, 3 RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE TO PREVENT CRIME IN 2 SEPARATE NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE, IS A MIDDLE-CLASS, RACIALLY MIXED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH YOUNG SINGLES NEXT TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THE OTHER AREA IS AN ADJACENT PUBLIC HOUSING AREA, MAINLY BLACK. THE SHORT-RANGE GOAL OF THE PROJECT WAS TO REDUCE ROBBERIES, BURGLARIES, AND PURSE SNATCHING. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD WERE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE TEAMS, AND PHYSICAL REDESIGN. FOR THE ADJACENT AREA, THE FIRST TWO STRATEGIES WERE PROPOSED, BUT NOT THE LAST SINCE RESIDENTS OBJECTED. PHYSICAL REDESIGN INCLUDED WIDENING SIDEWALKS TO CONSTRICT THE STREET, USING THE GATEWAY APROACH TO RESTRICT TRAFFIC, CREATING CUL-DE-SACS TO PROHIBIT AUTO ACCESS, ADJUSTING STREET LIGHTING AND EMPLOYING NUMEROUS TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. POLICE TEAMS WERE PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE AREA AND THE PATROLMEN ORDERED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS ON A SYSTEMATIC BASIS. CITIZENS WERE USED TO MONITOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. HARTFORD IS ALSO CONDUCTING A REGIONAL PILOT PROJECT ON CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, PROVIDING POLICE ESCORT SERVICES, AND RUNNING CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR CITIZENS. OTHER CITIES SUCH AS CHICAGO HAVE SIMILAR PROGRAMS AND LEAA HAS RECENTLY GIVEN A GRANT FOR A RESEARCH PROGRAM TO BALTIMORE FOR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)