U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF DELINQUENCY PLANNING FOR DELINQUENCY? - WHO PREVENTS CRIME? - A REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES OF 1977 AND 1978

NCJ Number
64222
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1979
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THIS 1978 REPORT FROM A SCOTTISH CRIME-PREVENTION SYMPOSIUM CONTAINS PAPER ON HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING FOR CRIME CONTROL.
Abstract
PLANNERS AND POLICEMEN AGREE THAT LARGE, MODERN, IMPERSONAL HIGH-RISE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS OFTEN FOSTER CRIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN INHABITED BY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OR LOW-INCOME, UNSTABLE FAMILIES. ALTHOUGH PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS OR PROPER BUILDING DESIGN MAY HELP REDUCE VANDALISM AND OTHER CRIMES, THE BEST CRIME CONTROL METHOD IS TENANT CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY. TENANTS' RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY PLANNERS WHO CONSIDER THEIR NEEDS AND IDEAS IN DESIGNING OR IMPROVING HOUSING FOR COMFORT AND SECURITY. HOWEVER, THE BEST PHYSICAL LAYOUT FOR CRIME CONTROL IS A SMALL COMMUNITY WITH MANY BUSY STREETS AND SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS. THIS FOSTERS A NETWORK OF SOCIAL RELATIONS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION. URBAN CRIME PREVENTION REQUIRES THE CLOSEST COOPERATION AMONG POLICE, ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS, HOUSING MANAGERS, AND TENANTS. FURTHER DISCUSSION EVALUATES TREATMENT, DECRIMINALIZATION, INCARCERATION, POLICING, SOCIAL REFORM, AND INCREASED SECURITY AS CRIME CONTROL METHODS. CHARTS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)