NCJ Number
54036
Date Published
1975
Length
60 pages
Annotation
THIS TRAINING MANUAL WAS PREPARED FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND EDUCATION AND REPRESENTS AN INTRODUCTION TO CRIME PREVENTION.
Abstract
THREE MAJOR SECTIONS COMPRISE THE MANUAL. THEY FOCUS ON THE CONCEPT OF CRIME PREVENTION, PHYSICAL SECURITY AS A KEY ELEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION, AND IMPLEMENTING THE CRIME PREVENTION CONCEPT. AN ACCEPTABLE DEFINITION OF CRIME PREVENTION IS AS FOLLOWS: ANTICIPATION, RECOGNITION, AND APPRAISAL OF CRIME RISK AND INITIATION OF ACTION TO REMOVE OR REDUCE THAT RISK. ENGLAND'S CRIME PREVENTION APPROACH CALLS FOR POLICE AND COMMUNITY ACTION TO BE TAKEN BEFORE CRIME OCCURS. THE STRATEGY ADOPTED IN THE UNITED STATES IS SIMILAR TO ENGLAND'S APPROACH. TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES HAS PLACED PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON THE INVESTIGATION AND APPREHENSION ASPECTS OF CRIME CONTROL. IN CONTEMPORARY LAW ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATION AND APPREHENSION ARE IMPORTANT BUT THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY DIRECT ACTION BEFORE AN ILLEGAL ACT IS COMMITTED THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY. TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY INCLUDE IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES, INCREASING THE LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE ON THE PART OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CRIME PREVENTION APPROACHES BY POLICE AGENCIES. IN TEXAS, MORE THAN 50 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE LAUNCHED CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES TO MINIMIZE CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY INVOLVE PERIMETER BARRIERS (FENCES, LANDSCAPING, AND LIGHTING), BUILDING EXTERIORS (DOORS, WINDOWS, AND OTHER POINTS OF ENTRY), INTERIOR CONTROLS AND LOCKING DEVICES, INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEMS, AND SECURITY SURVEYS. PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT THE CRIME PREVENTION CONCEPT ARE BROADLY CATEGORIZED AS CITIZEN SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS, CITIZEN PATROL, AND CITIZEN CRIME REPORTING PROGRAMS. EFFORTS TO IMPROVE RESIDENTIAL AND SECURITY COMMERCIAL SECURITY CONCERN CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, SECURITY PROVISIONS IN LOCAL BUILDING CODES, BURGLAR ALARM AND INTRUSION DEVICE ORDINANCES, INDUSTRIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS, PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION AND NUMBERING, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, BLOCK SECURITY PROGRAMS, BICYCLE THEFT PREVENTION, AUTOMOBILE THEFT PREVENTION, PERSONAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY RADIO WATCH. ILLUSTRATIONS OF PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES ARE INCLUDED. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS A COMMERCIAL SECURITY SURVEY FORM AND A HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)