NCJ Number
52888
Date Published
1978
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUGGESTS STRATEGIES BY WHICH THE MALL SETTINGS IDENTIFIED IN AN EARLIER REPORT AS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO VICTIMIZATION CAN BE CHANGED.
Abstract
AS OF THIS WRITING, THE CITY OF MANKATO, MINN., WAS PLANNING TO BUILD, IN THE SPRING OF 1977, A 32,000 SQUARE FOOT CLIMATE-CONTROLLED PUBLIC MALL CONTAINING 72,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW COMMERCIAL SPACE AND 265,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING BUILDINGS FOR A TOTAL COMBINED AREA TO EXCEED 369,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION. THIS MALL COMPLEX IS CONSIDERED A PILOT PROJECT INCORPORATING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ALARM SYSTEMS UTILIZING THE PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE. THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE MEASURES IS TO BE FOLLOWED BY A REDUCTION IN CRIMINAL INCIDENTS AND THE MANPOWER REQUIRED FOR THEIR PREVENTION. THE FIRST PART OF THE REPORT IDENTIFIED SECURITY WEAKNESSES IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURES. THE SECOND PART FOCUSES ON THE MALL ITSELF--THE ACCESS POINTS, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVEILLANCE AND PATROL, THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN OCCUPANT TYPES AND LOCATION, AND THE TYPES OF MATERIALS THE DEVELOPER WILL USE. EXISTING CRIME LEVELS IN THE AREA OF THE MALL AND THE EXISTING LEVEL OF AVAILABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE EXAMINED. THE ANALYSIS OF THE MALL DRAWINGS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MAPPING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS TO BECOME PART OF THE MALL, CONSIDERS THE DEGREE TO WHICH IDENTIFIABLE CRITICAL ISSUES OR CONDITIONS CAN EITHER SUPPORT OR DETER CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT SPECIFIC SETTINGS. FOUR PRINCIPAL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED IN THE ANALYSIS: ACCESS CONTROL, SURVEILLANCE, OCCUPANCY, AND MATERIAL QUALITY. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERRED FOR IMPROVING SECURITY AT EACH IDENTIFIED POINT OF VULNERABILITY. ESTIMATED COSTS FOR IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDED SECURITY CHANGES FOR EXISTING STRUCTURES ARE LISTED. (RCB)