Situational Crime Prevention

These flashcards encompass key terms and definitions relating to situational crime prevention as covered in the lecture.

Crime Prevention

The strategies and measures aimed at stopping crime before it happens, rather than dealing with offenders after crimes are committed.

Defensible Space

A concept introduced by Newman (1972) indicating that crime rates are lower in environments where residents feel a sense of ownership and territorial responsibility.

Broken Windows Theory

A theory suggesting that visible signs of disorder, such as broken windows, encourage further crime by signaling a lack of social cohesion.

Situational Crime Prevention

An approach to crime prevention that seeks to decrease opportunities for crime by manipulating environmental factors and encouraging lawful behavior.

Territoriality

Strategies aimed at fostering a sense of ownership in legitimate users of a space, making it less appealing to potential offenders.

Access Control

A strategy that reduces crime opportunities by denying access to potential targets through physical barriers or restrictions.

CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

An approach to urban design that seeks to reduce crime and fear of crime through strategic layout and management of the environment.

Surveillance

The monitoring of public or private spaces through natural or mechanical means to deter criminal activity.

Displacement

A criticism of situational crime prevention suggesting that efforts to deter crime in one area may simply shift criminal activity to another location.

Diffusion of Benefits

The phenomenon where crime prevention efforts in one area also yield positive outcomes in neighboring areas.

Target Hardening

Techniques that increase the effort required for an offender to commit a crime, often through physical barriers.