NCJ Number
58640
Date Published
1979
Length
55 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT COVERS AN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE DEFENSIVE USE OF SPACE AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING CRIMES. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE HYPOTHESES TESTABLE BY EXPERT EVALUATION.
Abstract
FROM THE 12 MANUALS AND 13 EMPIRICAL STUDIES EXAMINED, 30 NONREDUNDANT STRATEGIES WERE SELECTED FOR STUDY OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN PREVENTING BURGLARY IN RESIDENCES AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, OR STREET CRIMES IN PUBLIC AREAS. THESE STRATEGIES INCLUDE CLUSTERING HOUSES AWAY FROM THROUGHFARES, GROUPING STORES BY TYPE OF MERCHANDISE SOLD, LIGHTING WALKS AND STREETS, AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS USING A PARTICULAR STAIRWELL. THE METHODOLOGY REQUIRES THE SOLUTION OF THE COMPLEX PROBLEM OF ACTUAL PORTRAYAL OF CONTROLLABLE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FEATURES INCORPORATING THE STRATEGY TO BE EVALUATED. THE PORTRAYALS MUST NOT BE TOOL COMPLEX OR INACCURATE. THESE FAULTS ARE TO BE MINIMIZED BY CONSULTING EXPERTS WHO ARE TO CODE PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE FEATURES AND BY TESTING ALL POSSIBLE MEDIA AND ANGLES OF VIEW FOR ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATION. THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES; I.E. NEIGHBORHOOD, SEASONS, PASSERSBY AND POLICE PATROL ACTIVITY, FOLIAGE, AND AMOUNT OF NOISE ON THE STREET, TO BE CONSIDERED AS CONTROL VARIABLES ARE DISCUSSED. THE DATA TO BE COLLECTED IN THE STUDY ARE COMPARATIVE RESPONSES OF POLICE, CITIZENS, AND OFFENDERS AS TO THE SAFETY OR LACK THEREOF OF THE FEATURES PORTRAYED. TABLES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED, AND THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TABLES, ILLUSTRATIONS OF SAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHS, AND A LISTING OF ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AFFECTING CRIME. FOR RELATED DOCUMENT SEE NCJ 58639. (TWB)