A USDOT University Transportation Center

Built Environment Strategies to Deter Crime

There are various built environment strategies to deter criminal activities and reduce community crime rates. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach that incorporates safety and security into the built environment through natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, activity support, and maintenance.1 Some of the crime prevention strategies to consider when designing transportation infrastructure include:1,2,3

-Designing environments to increase natural surveillance

-Minimizing visual obstructions and concealed areas at intersecting roadways, etc.

-Ensuring adequate lighting at transit stops, roadways, sidewalks, and parks

-Installing cameras and emergency call boxes for pedestrians

-Increasing police/security presence to facilitate surveillance

-Minimizing graffiti and litter presence on transportation infrastructure

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Law enforcement
  • Local governments
  • MPOs
  • Policymakers
  • Transit agencies
  • Vulnerable road users
There are various built environment strategies to deter criminal activities and reduce community crime rates. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach that incorporates safety and security into the built environment through natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, activity support, and maintenance.1
Some of the crime prevention strategies to consider when designing transportation infrastructure include:1,2,3
-Designing environments to increase natural surveillance
-Minimizing visual obstructions and concealed areas at intersecting roadways, etc.
-Ensuring adequate lighting at transit stops, roadways, sidewalks, and parks
-Installing cameras and emergency call boxes for pedestrians
-Increasing police/security presence to facilitate surveillance
-Minimizing graffiti and litter presence on transportation infrastructure

How it Helps

These built environment strategies can foster positive social interactions and reduce the fear and incidence of criminal acts. It has been found that areas with higher criminal activity tend to have lower physical activity levels.1 This is due to community members feeling less safe to engage in walking and bicycling activities. Therefore, implementing these infrastructure designs has the potential to increase community activity levels, reduce stress, and lead to other public health benefits.

Implementing

Action Plan:

The measures and initiatives intended to deter any particular target crime should be outlined in an action plan. The target crime, the conception of objectives, what would be the goals of the strategies, the justification for the actions chosen, the contribution of the agencies and organizations, clear performance measures, and setting up of the time span should be the main areas in the formulation of an action plan.4

Equity Concerns:

Unfortunately, lower-income and racial and ethnic minority communities tend to experience higher crime rates.5 On the other hand, neighborhoods with lower crime rates usually have stronger social organizations, more job opportunities, and residential stability. Therefore, built environment modifications to deter crime should be focused on the most at-risk neighborhoods and communities to promote social justice.

Examples

1) The International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association (ICA)

The ICA is an international non-profit association that supports local communities and organizations that utilize Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.

https://www.cpted.net/

2) American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Guidance Document

The APTA has developed a guidance document on the use of CPTED principles for transit agencies. It addresses stakeholder and risk assessment considerations and provides a helpful checklist.

http://www.apta.com/research-technical-resources/

3) National Institute of Crime Prevention (NICP) Training Courses

The NICP provides basic and advanced CPTED training courses for law enforcement officials, city planners, architects, transportation experts, public health personnel, and any other interested parties. The NICP offers both in-person and online trainings.

https://www.cptedtraining.net/

1. USDOT. (2015). Built Environment Strategies to Deter Crime. https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/built-environment-strategies-to-deter-crime
2. City of Menlo Park. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). https://menlopark.gov/Government/Departments/Police/Crime-safety-and-prevention/Crime-Prevention-Through-Environmental-Design
3. CDC. (2011). Transportation Health Impact Assessment Toolkit: Strategies for Health-Oriented Transportation Projects and Policies Improve Safety for All Users. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/transportation/improve_strategy.htm
4. Kapur, R. (2018). Crime Prevention Strategies [cited 2022 Jul 4]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323733776_Crime_Prevention_Strategies
5. Office of Policy Development and Research. (2016). Neighborhoods and Violent Crime. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/summer16/highlight2.html