CPTED, especially as requirement?

August 20, 2023 7:47 AM

I am interested in the implementation of crime prevention through environmental design, especially but not only as a requirement in urban planning/permitting/design/approval. I am thinking of specific rules any research about effects, stories about how it went, etc. Thanks.
posted by NotLost to Law & Government (3 answers total)

Adequate lighting is a very common part of a CPTED solution in urban areas; here is a review and meta-analysis of research into the subject.

There is an ongoing question of whether green spaces help or hinder crime prevention and the answer is: it depends, but if it's the "right" green spaces, the effects can be markedly positive.

I'm not sure if this meets your criteria but access to health care has been shown to reduce addiction related crime, whether that's funding mental health responders to attend certain crimes rather than armed police, or just providing more health workers in an underserved area.

In a similar vein, more jobs equals less crime so investing in business parks and enterprise support can help crime-ridden areas transform (or prevent an area becoming crime-ridden in the first place). But these are more long term strategies rather than architectural or planning decisions.
posted by underclocked at 9:59 AM on August 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Search on "broken window theory of policing". I think it maybe somewhat debunked, but it has been very influential.

William Whyte's Social Life Of Small Urban Spaces is also interesting.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:32 AM on August 21, 2023

Could you give a little more info on what kind of urban planned requirements you're thinking of? Like how to write it into zoning code?
posted by sepviva at 6:02 AM on August 21, 2023