NCJ Number
165684
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Research issues relating to crime prevention needs associated with real estate development are examined.
Abstract
Understanding of the relationship between real estate and crime is limited, although public and private real estate provide the settings for most crimes and real estate values reflect the impact of crime on neighborhoods and business areas. Cooperation between criminologists and property owners and developers is also at an early stage of development. The different segments of the real estate industry comprise almost 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Crime problems differ considerably among the five main product types: residential, office, commercial, industrial, and land. Fifteen major research issues related to real estate and crime can be grouped into four areas: (1) the impact of crime on real estate, (2) the impact of real estate on crime, (3) educating the real estate industry about crime, and (4) research on crime and real estate. Specific issues include the impact of crime in one area on real estate in nearby areas, the role of government in crime prevention, the impact of design or project organization on crime, and customer responses to security measures of high and low visibility. The ownership of real estate data is proprietary, but communication through major real estate organizations could familiarize them with crime prevention through environmental design and other crime research and produce support for further research. Figures and 13 references (Author abstract modified)