NCJ Number
78340
Editor(s)
A Wallis,
D Ford
Date Published
1980
Length
61 pages
Annotation
A Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) demonstration program was conducted in Portland, Oreg., to reduce crime and fear of crime in urban commercial strips and adjacent residential areas by reducing the opportunity for crime while simultaneously fostering positive community relations.
Abstract
The commercial demonstration was part of a larger program intended to develop and demonstrate the utility of CPTED, a multistrategied approach to crime prevention. Other CPTED demonstrations took place in Broward County, Fla., Hartford, Conn., and Minneapolis, Minn. The site of the Portland demonstration was a 3.5-mile commercial strip, Union Avenue, which was found to have a disproportionate share of the city's crime problem. After conducting security surveys of 160 residents in August and September 1976, the city had security devices installed in homes and businesses along the Union Avenue corridor. Street lighting was improved and bus shelters were installed. A business owners' organization, the Northeast Boosters, and special events -- such as a cleanup day and a Sunday market -- were organized. The project was then evaluated to determine the quality of the efforts and success in goal attainment. Results showed that over the period of the demonstration, commercial burglary was significantly reduced. This was attributed in large part to the visibility of the police as they conducted the security surveys. In addition, the local business owners' perception of area safety improved. It was concluded that the project was a qualified success. CPTED is recommended as a concept for further testing; this report on the Portland project is designed to aid other communities in adapting CPTED strategies to their locales. Maps, figures, charts, and footnotes are provided.