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Safer Places: A Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Tutorial

NCJ Number
168534
Date Published
1996
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This CD-ROM tutorial instructs the user in the history and concepts of crime prevention through environmental design and presents case studies of environmental design (architectural and landscape) for a variety of facilities and areas; testing of knowledge and skill is included.
Abstract
The introduction notes that the primary goal of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is to design the built environment for effective use by citizens while placing predators at a disadvantage in attempting to victimize lawful users of the space. A review of the principles of CPTED focuses on territoriality (ownership of space); access control (decreased opportunities for criminal acts); and surveillance (keeping potential intruders or attackers under observation). A history of CPTED includes the principles developed by Oscar Newman and the strategy used by the State of Florida in developing legislation designed to implement CPTED in the planning of State facilities and spaces. In addition to having sections on CPTED goals and objectives as well as theory and history, sections are provided on architecture and landscape architecture. The section on architecture focuses on general architectural principles for implementing CPTED and case studies of the planning and implementation of CPTED for a school, dormitory, retail facility, transit facility, and parking area. The section on landscape architecture also contains case studies intended to help the user to consider how the designed environment impacts criminal behavior. Each section contains tests and interaction exercises intended to test the knowledge and planning skills acquired through the tutorial.