NCJ Number
44277
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A REPORT ON SEVERAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) IN SETTINGS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HOUSING IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE ROLE THAT CITY OFFICIALS CAN PLAY IN CRIME PREVENTION BY IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IS DESCRIBED. CPTED IS A COMBINATION OF EFFECTIVE DESIGN AND USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT; IT INCORPORATES PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF REDUCING CRIME AND THE FEAR OF CRIME. THE AIM OF CPTED IS TO REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIME THAT ARE OFTEN INHERENT IN THE STRUCTURE OF BUILDINGS AND THE LAYOUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND STREETS (E.G., BLIND ALLEYS, UNLIGHTED STREETS, AND DENSE SHRUBBERY). A KEY PART OF CPTED IS THE CHANGE IN ATTITUDE AMONG RESIDENTS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, ALLOWING PEOPLE THE FREEDOM TO MOVE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT FEAR OF HARM. THE PROJECTS DESCRIBED ARE AIMED PRIMARILY AT CRIMES SUCH AS HOMICIDE, RAPE, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AUTO THEFT, ARSON, AND VANDALISM. CPTED STRATEGIES INCLUDE THREE KINDS OF CRIME PREVENTION: PUNITIVE (CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH IT IS APPARENT THAT A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL IS LIKELY TO BE DETECTED, APPREHENDED, AND PUNISHED); MECHANICAL (PLACING PHYSICAL OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF THE POTENTIAL OFFENDER TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO COMMIT A CRIME); AND CORRECTIVE (ELIMINATING CRIMINAL MOTIVES). THE REPORT DESCRIBES WAYS TO ACHIEVE THESE MEANS OF CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ACCESS CONTROL, SURVEILLANCE, ACTIVITY SUPPORT, AND MOTIVATION REINFORCEMENT. CPTED PROJECTS ARE DISCUSSED FOR COMMERCIAL SETTINGS, RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS, SCHOOLS, AND IN TERMS OF STREET LIGHTS, MASS TRANSIT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND CITY PLANNING AGENCIES. POLICY IMPLICATIONS ARE CONSIDERED.