NCJ Number
77610
Editor(s)
A Wallis,
D Ford
Date Published
1980
Length
74 pages
Annotation
Four high schools in Broward County, Fla., located in areas of differing racial composition and income levels, were selected as demonstration sites for the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Program, which was planned to reduce crime and fear of crime.
Abstract
The initiation phase of the demonstration project involved assessing crime-related problems and issues, including vandalism, breaking and entering, theft, and assaults. In addition, it entailed developing a concept plan to enhance student identification with the school and increase perceived risk of offending, as well as assessing potential resources, support programs, and personnel. During the subsequent planning phase, indepth crime environment analyses were conducted for each school, and strategic tactical plans as well as management and work plans for program implementation were developed. Strategies included renovation of school courtyards, bicycle parking compounds, hallways and exterior stairwells, restrooms, parking lots, school grounds, and locker rooms for the purpose of increasing natural opportunities for surveillance, limiting access to isolated areas, providing clear definition of transitional and functional areas, and introducing natural border definition. At the conclusion of these activities, three different types of project evaluation were conducted by school faculties. They measured the quality of effort (number and types of projects), proximate goal attainment (changed student behavior and altered opportunities for crime), and ultimate goal attainment (reduction in crime and fear of crime). Documentation of the project activities, student attitude questionnaires, and computerized reports on school crime were used as sources of data. Analysis indicated that although there were problems at each stage of the project, it was implemented as designed--if not as scheduled. There were moderate increases in movement control, surveillance, activity support, and motivation reinforcement. No statistically significant change in student perception of safety was evident, however. Nevertheless, some reduction in crime victimization was detected. Recommendations are given concerning funding, implementation, and evaluation of future projects. Study data are provided. The demonstration was part of a larger program that included a commercial demonstration in Portland, Oreg., and a residential demonstration in the Willard-Homewood neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minn.