NCJ Number
52879
Date Published
1978
Length
96 pages
Annotation
TO REDUCE CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME IN A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, A STUDY IDENTIFIED CRITICAL CRIME PROBLEMS AND WAYS MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PHYSICAL DESIGN COULD BE MODIFIED TO EASE THE PROBLEMS.
Abstract
CECIL NEWMAN COURTS IS A 100-UNIT DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN THE EARLY 1970'S UNDER A HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) DEPARTMENT PROGRAM. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF SIX INTERCONNECTED THREE-STORY BUILDINGS. TO IDENTIFY THE CRIME PROBLEMS FACING THE RESIDENTS OF THE PROJECT, CALLS FOR SERVICE MADE TO THE LOCAL POLICE PRECINCT WERE STUDIED, DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON THE RESIDENTS WERE COLLECTED, RESIDENT AND PHYSICAL SURVEYS WERE MADE, CRIME DATA WERE SECURED FROM PROJECT SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, HUD OFFICIALS, MAINTENANCE WORKERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. BURGLARY WAS FOUND TO BE THE MAJOR CRIME PROBLEM, FOLLOWED BY VANDALISM AND OTHER ASSORTED CRIMES AND FEAR OF CRIME COMPLAINTS. THE LACK OF ACCESS CONTROL WAS THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROBLEM, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT SITE DOES NOT SUPPORT APPROPRIATE CONTROL OF BUILDING ACCESS. WHILE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS FOUND TO BE WELL PLANNED AND MAINTAINED, INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS NEGLECTED, WITH SEVERAL BROKEN FIXTURES AND NONUNIFORM DEPLOYMENT IN STAIRWELLS. THE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS UNCOVERED INCLUDED HIGH VACANCY AND APARTMENT TURNOVER RATES, POOR KEY CONTROL, SUPERFICIAL SCREENING OF POTENTIAL TENANTS, LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND STAFF, AND NONENFORCEMENT OF STRICT MANAGEMENT RENT COLLECTION POLICIES. A LACK OF COMMUNITY COHESION ALSO WAS FOUND TO CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME PROBLEMS. CRIME CONTROL STRATEGIES ARE RECOMMENDED IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL DESIGN, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY COHESION. THE COMMUNITY INTERVIEW GUIDE IS APPENDED, ALONG WITH DOCUMENTATION AND LISTS OF INCLUDED FIGURES, TABLES, AND MAPS. (KBL)