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Site Elements Manual - Planning for Housing Security

NCJ Number
74792
Date Published
1978
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This manual is designed to provide those responsible for planning improvements to existing multifamily sites -- or for designing new ones -- with a framework for determining which site elements are best suited to accomplish a particular security objective.
Abstract
The manual assumes that the site improvement plan has been developed on the conceptual level by using site security analysis. Site security analysis examines a site to determine the extent to which it possesses characteristics generally associated with crime and the fear of crime. Each site element is analyzed according to four criteria: its contribution to the security planning objectives of eliminating unassigned space, minimizing penetrability, maximizing surveillance, and minimizing design conflict; its initial costs; its maintenance requirements; and the procedures that must be followed in installing or planting the site elements. Site elements examined include plant materials, such as ground covers, shrubs, and trees; contructed site elements, such as low and high walls, low and high fences, gates, bollards, paving materials and textures, and slopes; and manufactured items for sitting areas, play areas, and lighting. The handbook thus provides a practical guide to implementing a site security improvement program. Charts and a site elements security capabilities matrix are included. Illustrations, footnotes, and a bibliography of about 15 references are provided. Appendixes discuss some general design considerations, give maps showing plant hardiness zones, and list nine suggested readings.