Safety
How can we ensure that our community is safe?
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
OVERVIEW
The Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) model examines how physical design of a community can make it easier for residents to “police” public spaces and deter criminal activity.- Basic elements of this approach include:
- Increasing “natural surveillance” – the ability of residents to observe what is happening - through lighting, landscape design, and placement of buildings and windows.
- Clearly differentiating between public and private space.
- Creating a stronger sense of ownership over space.
- CPTED should not be confused with placing a neighborhood in “lockdown” through excessive fencing or razor fencing, security cameras, removal of trees and vegetation, etc. (some research actually indicates that trees tend to lower crime rates).
- Consideration should be given to how CPTED measures can be made harmonious with other urban design goals that your community may have, such as creating green space, encouraging connections between residents and improving physical connections between different parts of the community.
RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES
- The Design Centre for CPTED provides an explanation of CPTED principles.
- A CPTED book by Oscar Newman (1996), Creating Defensible Space, is available in its entirety on the internet here.
- “Illustrated CPTED Guidelines,” a detailed guidebook on CPTED principles and how to conduct a CPTED assessment is available here.
- The international CPTED Association website can be found here.
Developmental approaches to work with at-risk individuals
OVERVIEW
Developmental approaches to reducing crime look at impacting the factors that can lead people to committing crimes, and helping populations such as at-risk youth and ex-offenders to take advantage of positive opportunities.- Generally, such models posit that people are less likely to engage in crime when they have:
- A sense of hope for the future
- A positive self-image
- Rewarding opportunities to pursue
- The skills to take advantage of these opportunities (life skills, job skills, leadership and interpersonal skills, etc.)
- For young people, a relationship with a caring adult who can help to generate these other positive factors
- These approaches therefore emphasize building relationships with people at risk of engaging in crime, brokering opportunities and helping them to acquire skills.
RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES
- www.nonviolenceinstitute.org/)">The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence in Providence, RI, approaches the issue of violence-involved youth from a variety of innovative angles, including training in nonviolence skills, youth programs, victim’s assistance programs, and a streetworker program to reach out to gang members.
- While their workforce development and housing benefits extend well beyond the issue of promoting safety, many YouthBuild organizations serve at-risk youth.
- Manchester-Bidwell Corporation engages at-risk youth in a variety of activities, including teaching them work with ceramics, and to grow orchids in a commercial greenhouse operation. A related reading resource is the book by the Corporation’s founder, Bill Strickland (2007). Make the Impossible Possible, from Doubleday.
- Also see the book by Geoffrey Canada (1996). Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America from Beacon Press.
- For detailed background on youth and crime, seen here. (from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
- CeaseFire Chicago focuses on street-level outreach and conflict mediation to change community norms and reduce violence. CeaseFire’s efforts call upon outreach workers and “violence interrupters,” faith leaders, and other community leaders to intervene in conflicts and promote alternatives to violence. The organization also involves cooperation with police and depends heavily on public education to instill the message that shootings and violence are not acceptable.
Building community “collective efficacy”
OVERVIEW
“Collective Efficacy” means the degree to which residents know one another in a community and believe that they can rely on one another to manage neighborhood issues.- Academic studies have found that lower levels of collective efficacy in a neighborhood are directly correlated with higher levels of violent crime.
- This approach to crime prevention emphasizes the importance of building relationships among residents, and helping residents work together on efforts that help them establish some control over their environment.
RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES
- See a summary of the research on collective efficacy at: http://poverty.smartlibrary.org/NewInterface/segment.cfm?segment=2480
- Neighborhood block watches are one example of a strategy that builds relationships between residents while preventing crime. USA on Watch offers a nationwide list of block watches, provides tools for setting up programs, and has a full Resource Center. Toledo’s Neighborhood Block Watch won a 2008 Neighborhood Watch Award One goal of the group has been to improve quality of life for all—beyond reducing crime—including health, infrastructure, and issues of nuisance/vacant properties, which has been accomplished through outreach efforts. The program supports model block programs, neighborhood clean-ups and beautification projects, educational trainings, youth outreach for clean-ups and social events, and other programs.
- Solutions for America summarizes program strategies that vetted research shows are effective in addressing important community issues. The Neighborhood Crime Prevention & Safety Section summarizes the latest research on the subject and links to a number of other helpful websites covering actions residents can take in their own neighborhoods.
Community Policing
OVERVIEW
Community policing is an “organizational wide philosophy and management approach that promotes community, government and police partnerships, proactive problem solving and community engagement to address the causes of crime, the fear of crime and other community issues.”*- Key elements of a community policing strategy are:
- Building a partnership between the police and community members.
- Adopting a problem-solving mindset to analyze safety issues.
- Community policing generally involves a higher level of interaction and communication between police officers and residents than in more traditional approaches.
RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES
- The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the US Department of Justice provides information about what community policing is, and information about the COPS funding program.
- Citizens Police Academies are used throughout the country to educate citizens on the basics of the law enforcement profession and to help build a partnership with the police. The concept originated in the United Kingdom in 1977 and was called the Police Night School.
- Since 1998 the International Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing Committee has recognized the best practices of agencies around the world. Entries are categorized by population, featuring innovative ideas utilizing the power of community policing, through collaboration and partnerships, to make local, national and global communities safer from crime and terrorism. Read about 2009’s winners, including Minneapolis’ Court Watch Initiative to reduce urban homicide, and Gainesville, Florida’s efforts to reduce recidivism among young African American males.
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