CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN - TECHNICAL GUIDELINE 7 - PLANNING PUBLIC OUTDOOR AREAS

• NCJ Number: 45747
• Author(s): L S BELL; J P KOTELES; L NORIEGA; N D J YOUNG
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 113 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-022-74
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRELIMINARY MANUSCRIPT

Annotation

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND BASIC PRINCIPLES ARE NOTED FOR PLANNING PUBLIC AREAS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SURVEILLANCE, PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL, AND REDUCE VANDALISM AND CRIME.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE THEORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AS A DETERRENT TO CRIME, GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED REGARDING OUTDOOR LIGHTING, LANDSCAPING, AND SURFACING MATERIALS USED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIME AND VANDALISM; THE INTEGRATION OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN WITH BUILDING DESIGN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM SURVEILLANCE AND SAFETY IS ALSO EXAMINED. THE CHAPTER ON LIGHTING DISCUSSES THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF LIGHTING RECOMMENDED UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS, EFFICIENCY OF VARIOUS LIGHT SOURCES, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF LIGHTING, AND HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS. METHODS FOR MAPPING LIGHTING NEEDS AND ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO CONTRIBUTE TO A TOTAL ILLUMINATION PLAN ARE OUTLINED. A SECTION ON LANDSCAPING CONCENTRATES ON FACILITATING NATURAL SURVEILLANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND POLICE AND ON REDUCING VANDALISM. USING HARD AND SOFT SURFACES TO ENCOURAGE DESIRABLE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, LOW PLANTS TO DIVIDE SPACES INTO SMALLER ACTIVITY AREAS, AND PLANTS AND SURFACES WHICH RESIST VANDALISM ARE DISCUSSED. LISTS OF PLANTS WITH DESIRABLE GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS ARE INCLUDED. CHARTS COMPARE CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS SURFACING MATERIALS. SITE PLANS ILLUSTRATE PARKS WHICH ARE EASILY SUPERVISED FROM SURROUNDING STREETS AND BUILDINGS. THE CONSTRUCTION OF BENCHES, RESTROOMS, TELEPHONE BOOTHS, AND OTHER NEEDED ELEMENTS IS DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE SPECIAL DESIGN PROBLEMS OF PLAYGROUNDS. TECHNIQUES FOR SEPARATING AREAS USED BY SMALL CHILDREN FROM OLDER POTENTIALLY DELINQUENT YOUTHS ARE DESCRIBED. CHARTS LIST COMMON VANDALISM PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VARIOUS LAND USES AND COMMON CRIME AND VANDALISM PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED AND ALTERNATIVE PLANNING APPROACHES ARE OUTLINED. POSSIBLE DESIGN APPROACHES TO PROTOTYPICAL PROBLEM SETTINGS ARE ALSO EXAMINED. EACH CHAPTER CONTAINS REFERENCES, TABLES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS. A NUMBER OF SITE SKETCHES ILLUSTRATE THE POINTS UNDER DISCUSSION. (GLR)