CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN - A COMPENDIUM OF RESOURCES PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA

• NCJ Number: 57421
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 35-47
• Author(s): D DINGEMANS; T WESTOVER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General Crime Prevention Unit
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Directory
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A CALIFORNIA SURVEY THAT EXAMINED WAYS IN WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE CONTROLLING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN TO FACILITATE CRIME PREVENTION, AND A RESOURCE GUIDE ON THE SUBJECT IS PROVIDED.

Abstract

IN INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, ACADEMICIANS, PLANNERS, AND CRIME-PREVENTION OFFICERS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND APPROACHES TO ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FOR CRIME PREVENTION WERE FOUND. MANY LOCAL POLICE AND SHERIFFS' DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CRIME-PREVENTION UNIT AND ENGAGE IN SOME KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME-PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. DESIGN REVIEW MAY BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE OFFICER IN LARGE DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN MOST DEPARTMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN-EVALUATION WORK IS JUST ONE OF MANY RESPONSIBILITIES HELD BY THE CRIME-PREVENTION OFFICER. TRAINING AND GUIDANCE FOR THESE CRIME-PREVENTION OFFICERS IS NECESSARY IF ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES ARE TO REALIZE THEIR THEORETICAL POTENTIAL. THE INITIAL STEP FOR INFLUENCING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FOR CRIME PREVENTION IN MANY COMMUNITIES IS TO ENACT A SECURITY ORDINANCE SPECIFYING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, MATERIALS, AND LOCKING HARDWARE. ANOTHER FREQUENT AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED APPROACH IS POLICE REVIEW OF PROPOSED NEW DEVELOPMENT. AMONG THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED, THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: (1) THERE ARE FEW READILY AVAILABLE GUIDES TO LITERATURE ON CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN; (2) MORE AND BETTER INSTRUCTION AND INFORMATION IS NEEDED; AND (3) POLICE OFFICERS NEED MORE INSTRUCTION IN READING AND INTERPRETING BLUEPRINTS AND PLANS. TO HELP DEAL WITH THE FIRST NEED MENTIONED, A RESOURCE GUIDE IS PROVIDED. THE ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS WHICH CAN SERVE AS IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN INFORMATION. THE TYPE OF INFORMATION LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE FROM EACH SOURCE IS DISCUSSED. RESOURCES THAT CAN PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR REVIEWING PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND CAN PROVIDE ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVES ON DEFENSIBLE SPACE ARE ALSO LISTED. (RCB)