Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It will change Springfield.

[stephendare]

CEPTED is one of the most brilliant sets of ideas to come along in a good while.

Alot of neighborhood crime is usually only possible under very specialized circumstances:  No witnesses, bad lighting to disguise whats actually happening, things to hide behind, easy escape routes etc.

I was lucky enough to go on a walk with the Sheriff's Office (without their invitation actually, as a merchant in Five Points---they were trying to 'fix' the alternative kid 'problem' at the time, which they assumed was all drug gang related) and it changed my total perspective.

While the cops were doing their best to get rid of the bohemian kids that eventually restored and gentrified the neighborhood, we were all being victimized by actual criminals.  The cops werent much help on calls (similar to springfield now) and CEPTED ideas really made our lives a lot easier.

Main and 8th Street would both be transformed by these ideas.  Btw, the 'broken window theory' comes from this work.  It would be nice if it were applied to springfield in context.

Here is from their national website:

http://www.cpted-watch.com/

CPTED Crime Prevention
"CPTED is the proper design and effective use of the built environment which may lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime, and an improvement of the quality of life." - National Crime Prevention Institute

Saturday November 29, 2008- We live with crime every day. It has become, unfortunately, a fact of life. Discussions on the subject have traditionally focused much less on crime prevention than on arrest and punishment; measures that cannot be taken until after a crime has been committed. Only in the last 20 years have designers and architects begun to see the need to plan and build with more in mind than just the traditional threats of nature: fire, earthquakes and hurricanes. They must now consider the threat of crime.
Enter a new approach to crime prevention - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - or CPTED. Much more far-reaching than dead bolts on doors and locks on windows, CPTED crime prevention principles can be applied easily and inexpensively to building or remodeling, and have been implemented in communities across the nation. The results have been impressive; in some CPTED communities, criminal activity has decreased by as much as 40 percent. What is the secret to CPTED crime prevention? Design that eliminates or reduces criminal behavior and at the same time encourages people to "keep an eye out" for each other. These are just a few of the ingredients that go into creating an effective CPTED crime prevention environment; that is, a safer more livable community.
The Four Strategies of CPTED
1. Natural Surveillance - A design concept directed primarily at keeping intruders easily observable. Promoted by features that maximize visibility of people, parking areas and building entrances: doors and windows that look out on to streets and parking areas; pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and streets; front porches; adequate nighttime lighting.

2. Territorial Reinforcement - Physical design can create or extend a sphere of influence. Users then develop a sense of territorial control while potential offenders, perceiving this control, are discouraged. Promoted by features that define property lines and distinguish private spaces from public spaces using landscape plantings, pavement designs, gateway treatments, and "CPTED" fences.

3. Natural Access Control - A design concept directed primarily at decreasing crime opportunity by denying access to crime targets and creating in offenders a perception of risk. Gained by designing streets, sidewalks, building entrances and neighborhood gateways to clearly indicate public routes and discouraging access to private areas with structural elements.

4. Target Hardening - Accomplished by features that prohibit entry or access: window locks, dead bolts for doors, interior door hinges.

Presented along with each of these CPTED strategies are guidelines which, as a homeowner, builder or remodeler, you can apply to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life.

[sheclown]

The "dog watchers" and block captains have been doing a lot for keeping a watch on the neighborhood.  Also, when there are problems, people usually post on the SPAR board to give others a 'heads up'.

Springfield has had a long history of involvement from its residents.  I remember Gerry and Dave and their bike watches with the beloved "Buggar Marie" wearing her goggles in the basket on the front of her bike.  You really haven't lived until you've rolled up somewhere you absolutely don't want to be with Gerry and Dave and the dog.

I think there is a strong sense of communal responsibility that living in a neighborhood, such as ours, gives you. 

[sheclown]

A funny thing happened one day while I was walking through the neighborhood with my grandson.   We were walking to church with a rather street-wise friend.  Elijah said "Mr. Andy, we have to walk on the sidewalk".  Andy said to him, "Come back here, Elijah, we need to stay in the middle of the street, the sidewalk isn't safe."

Elijah looked at me, huh?

That is why so many people walk down the middle of the street in Springfield.  You can see what approaches from either side, front and back. 

[sheclown]

What are the principles that govern the perception of public safety?

Lighted areas
Fences which define personal (and personal responsibility) areas
Windows facing the street

I think all of these things are very positive.  What makes CPTED different from conventional wisdom?

[sheclown]

The 1997 Springfield Action Plan called for a CPTED "loop street island".  I'm not sure I totally understand what the study is suggesting...something about raising the curb diagonally across the intersection with landscaping and special paving treatments.  Then there are semi-private street entry gates and alley entry gates.

The alley gates would have a lock with a card key for residents.

Interesting.

The plan also calls for a "commons option A" similar to Savannah's parks.  I'm going to try to scan this in so that it can be posted.

[civil42806]

Open sight lines, and the deliberate creation of domain zones.

Making sure there is a lit busy place within easy running distance at all times for night time activities, nothing that would seriously block visibility from eyewitnesses.  Its as much an art as it is a science.

Drive down Main Street and decide for yourself how many areas could easily be hidden in, or which pockets of darkness would disguise a discreet blowjob or a drug deal.

If you were running from the cops, where would you run to?   

Where would be the places that if you ran to you could easily change direction and no one could see which way you went?

You will be surprised how this world will open up to you if you look for these things intentionally.

Open sight lines is very important, in fact one of the most important.  I work around the country and live in a lot of different places, apartments and such.  One of the first things I do when considering an apartment complex is the line of sight.  can I see the entire complex or can I drive around it without having to stop and back up, in other words no blind alleys.