CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PROGRAM, MAY 1974 - JUNE 1976

• NCJ Number: 49210
• Author(s): R A CARLSTON; P D DEWITT; L F HANES; E J PESCE
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 41 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-022-74
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse National Issues Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CONCEPTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED, AND FUTURE PLANS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

CONTEMPORARY INTEREST IN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AS A CRIME PREVENTION APPROACH WAS STIMULATED BY SEVERA SEVERAL THEORIES WRITTEN IN THE 1960'S. IN 1974, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (NILECJ) INITIATED THE CPTED PROGRAM; THE OVERALL PURPOSE WAS TO DEMONSTRATE AND EVALUATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE CONCEPTS IN SCHOOL, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND TRANSPORTAION ENVIRONMENTS. THE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM WAS ON PREDATORY AND FEAR-PRODUCING CRIMES IN EACH OF THESE AREAS. OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRST 2-YEAR PROGRAM WERE: TO MODIFY AND EXPAND THE CONCEPT OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE, TAILORING THE CONCEPTS FOR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOUR ENVORONMENTS; TO SELECT WILLING LOCAL DEMONSTRATION SITES FOR EACH ENVIRONMENT; TO DEVELOP GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR EACH ENVIRONMENT AND SPCIFIC PLANS FOR EACH DEMONSTRATION; AND TO IMPLEMENT TWO DEMONSTRATION PLANS AND INITIATE AN EVALUATION PROCESS OF EACH. THE RESEARCH TEAM EXPANDED THE CONCEPT OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE TO INCLUDE ONLY THOSE SPACES WHERE INTERACTION BETWEEN HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CREATES THE SPACE CONCEPT. A STRATEGY SET, OR MODEL, WAS DEVELOPED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CRIME-ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS EXISTING OR ANTICIPATED IN AN AREA. PROPER SPACE DEFINITION AND APPROPRIATE SPACE USE CAN EXTEND THE AREA OVER WHICH CITIZENS FEEL A PROPRIETARY INTEREST AND RESPONSIBILITY, INCREASE THE CITIZENS' ABILITY TO PERCEIVE WHEN THIS TERRITORY IS THREATENED, AND PROVIDE POTENTIAL OFFENDERS WITH THE FEELING THAT THEY ARE INTRUDNG ON SOMEONE'S DOMAIN. DEMONSTRATIONS WERE PLANNED AS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM, AND SITES WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE ENVIRONMENTAL TYPES INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM. THESE INCLUDED PORTLAND, OREGON (COMMERCIAL), BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA (SCHOOLS), AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (RESIDENTIAL). PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS UNIQUE TO EACH ONE OF THESE SITES ARE DISCUSSED. PLANS FOR FUTURE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONTINUING DEMONSTRATIONS, INCREASED EXAMINATION OF THE PROGRAM RESEARCH COMPONENTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CPTED PROGRAM MANUAL. (DAG)