NCJ Number
83136
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Research directions bearing upon countering crime in public housing in Australia are discussed in the areas of crime prevention in general, environmental design, management policies, and housing policy.
Abstract
Research on crime prevention in general should focus on victimization, the fear of crime, and the altering of citizen behavior to improve security. Recent research has revealed the limitations of defensible space in reducing crime. Also, the density of Australian cities is so low as to be more akin to the American suburb, and most importantly for Australia, the scope of the theory of defensible space is too limited. Australia requires a more comprehensive approach to crime prevention, including social services, the police, employment programs, and a wider consideration of social factors. Among the ways in which housing management can influence crime are maintenance, response to crime, coordination with police and other agencies, tenant screening, positioning of population among buildings, tenant organizaion, personalization of units, eviction policies, and intervention in neighbor disputes. It is important to increase the emphasis currently placed on training estate managers and tenancy officers. Based on the theory that all crime prevention programs should be comprehensive and emerge from an analysis of important policy issues, housing policy should be a focus of research. Better coordination should be developed between those responsible for public housing, town planning, police, social services, and other agencies concerned with the welfare of public housing residents. A total of 20 references are listed.