NCJ Number
55822
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 58-63
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR POLICE CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALISTS IS DISCUSSED, AND CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT OFFER A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO URBAN CRIME PROBLEMS ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
RISING VICTIMIZATION RATES AND THE FAILURE OF POLICE TO REDUCE CRIME THROUGH TRADITIONAL MEANS ARE INDICATIONS THAT POLICE CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALISTS ARE NEEDED. SUCH SPECIALISTS SHOULD BE PRESENT IN EVERY MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCY, AND THEIR EFFORTS SHOULD BE COORDINATED WITH THOSE OF CITY ADMINISTRATORS, PLANNING COMMISSIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT IN ANY URBAN CRIME PREVENTION SCHEME IS THAT OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE--THE IDEA THAT THE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT CAN ELICIT ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF CITIZENS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THEIR SECURITY. ONE PROJECT THAT HAS DRAWN ON THIS CONCEPT IS THE LEAA-FUNDED PILOT STUDY OF CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED), A STRATEGY THAT ENCOMPASSES FOUR ASPECTS OF PREVENTION: PROPER CONSTRUCTION AND SPACE ALLOCATION FOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS, STREETS, PARKS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, ETC.; STRONG LOCKS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS; SOCIAL PLANNING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS DIRECTED TO POTENTIAL VICTIMS; AND PLANNING THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO FACE SKEPTICISM AND CRITICISM WHEN THEY INTRODUCE PREVENTION PLANS. IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PLANS SHOULD BE PRECEDED BY DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, REVIEWS OF RESOURCES AND CRIME PATTERNS, AND ACHIEVEMENT OF CONSENSUS AMONG ALL DECISIONMAKERS REGARDING THE UTILITY OF CRIME PREVENTION. IT IS TIME THAT CITY OFFICIALS BEGIN LOOKING AT CRIME PREVENTION AS THEY WOULD ANY OTHER IMPORTANT FACET OF CITY PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION. IT IS ALSO TIME THAT THE POLICE ROLE IN CRIM PREVENTION BE EXPANDED. (LKM)