IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN URBAN APARTMENT DWELLINGS - SECURITY CONCEPTS AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY BUILDINGS

• NCJ Number: 11214
• Author(s): W FAIRLEY; M LIECHENSTEIN
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 155 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: New York City, New York
• Corporate Author: Rand Corporation
• Sale Source: New York City-Rand Institute
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SECURITY IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC HOUSING, EXAMINING SPECIFIC CRIME LOCATIONS AND CRIME RATES, EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SECURITY MEASURES.

Abstract

THIS REPORT IS THE RESULT OF A SECURITY IMPROVEMENT STUDY ON PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE STUDY SHOWS THAT, ALTHOUGH MOST CRIME RATES IN THE PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THOSE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, THE AVERAGE PROJECT ROBBERY RATES ARE HIGHER. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT ROBBERY, ESPECIALLY IN ELEVATORS, OUGHT TO BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF A SECURITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THE REPORT INDICATES THE SPECIFIC LOCATION WITHIN PROJECTS WHERE VARIOUS CRIMES OCCUR AND SHOWS HOW THE CRIME RATES VARY WITH THE MONTH, DAY, AND HOUR. IN THE SUCCEEDING THEORETICAL ANALYSIS, GENERAL AND SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR JUDGING A SYSTEM'S EFFECTIVENESS AND OPERATIONAL SUITABILITY ARE DEVELOPED. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL DISCUSSES EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTROL PROJECTS, OF AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF TESTED PROJECTS, AND OF TESTING IN SEPARATED PROJECTS ARE AMONG THOSE MENTIONED. IN ALL, 15 DIFFERENT ACTUAL SECURITY MEASURES ARE EXAMINED WITH RESPECT TO EFFECTIVENESS AND COST. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SECURITY IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENTS ARE ELABORATED IN THE FINAL CHAPTER - THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COORDINATES THE CREATION OF A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF TENANT COUNCILS TO DESIGN SECURITY PROJECTS FOR FUTURE CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY POLICE UNDERTAKE A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION STUDY. APPENDED MATERIAL INCLUDES AN EXAMINATION OF THE LEGAL AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ASPECTS OF EMPLOYING SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, AN EXPLANATION OF A STATISTICAL MODEL FOR ESTIMATING THE EFFECTS OF SECURITY MEASURES, AND A DISCUSSION OF DESIGN, INCLUDING A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS APPROACH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)