THE RATIONALE FOR DESIGNING NEW STRUCTURES OR MODIFYING EXISTING ONES WITH CRIME PREVENTION IN MIND IS THAT SUCH DESIGN CAN REMOVE EASY TARGETS FOR PERSONS WHO MIGHT COMMIT CRIME ON IMPULSE, MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT OR RISKY FOR POTENTIAL OFFENDERS TO REACH THEIR TARGETS, AND INCREASE THE CHANCES OF APPREHENSION DURING OR AFTER A CRIMINAL ACT. BASIC ASSUMPTIONS FROM THE FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY, URBAN PLANNING, AND CRIMINOLOGY UNDERLYING THE CONCEPT OF PREVENTION-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OPPORTUNITY AS A KEY PRECIPITATING FACTOR IN MANY TYPES OF CRIME. AN OVERVIEW OF MAJOR APPROACHES TO CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND TARGET-HARDENING CONCEPTS. THE FORMER INVOLVES THE USE OF PHYSICAL DESIGN TO STIMULATE A SENSE OF IDENTITY WITH HOUSING AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTS THAT RESULTS IN ACTIVE CONCERN FOR PROPERTY AND NEIGHBORS. THE LATTER CONCENTRATES ON MAKING IT PHYSICALLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR WOULD-BE OFFENDERS TO REACH THEIR TARGETS. STEPS IN THE SYSTEMATIC APPLICATION OF DESIGN TECHNIQUES IN CRIME PREVENTION ARE OUTLINED. THE NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH IS CITED, AND RESEARCH TOPICS ARE SUGGESTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.