Chapter 4: The Physical Environment and Crime Prevention

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts in Chapter 4 regarding the relationship between the physical environment and crime prevention.

CPTED

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, a strategy focused on altering physical design to reduce crime.

Defensible Space

A concept proposed by Oscar Newman which suggests that physical characteristics of an area can influence behavior to inhibit crime.

Territoriality

The sense of ownership over an area, prompting residents to take action when something seems amiss.

Natural Surveillance

The ability of residents to observe activities in their environment without special tools, enhancing the likelihood of observing potential offenders.

Access Control

Methods to regulate who can enter and exit a space, aiming to reduce opportunities for crime.

Activity Support

Functions that promote interaction among community members, contributing to a communal atmosphere to combat crime.

Target Hardening

Physical features or changes that make a property more difficult to victimize, such as locks and security systems.

Image

The outward appearance of an area that suggests it is cared for, discouraging crime by communicating that residents are vigilant.

Milieu

The larger surrounding environment’s crime levels impact the effectiveness of crime prevention measures.

Social Cohesion

The bond that encourages community members to look out for one another, enhancing crime prevention efforts.

Secured By Design (SBD)

A program in England that provides guidance on designing safe homes and buildings, based on principles of crime prevention.

Crime and Disorder Act (CDA)

A UK law mandating the collaboration of multiple agencies to address crime through design and planning.

Environmental Quality

The state of an area’s aesthetic and functional attributes, which influences feelings of safety and community responsibility.

Permeability

The measure of how accessible an area is, where less permeable areas (like cul-de-sacs) tend to have lower crime rates.

Operation Identification

A property identification program aimed at reducing incidents of burglary through marking and tagging property.

Lighting

An element in crime prevention that enhances visibility, potentially reducing crime rates by improving surveillance.

CCTV

Closed-circuit television, often used in crime prevention, whose effectiveness can vary based on implementation.