CPTED

CPTED

Crime Prevention through Environmental design

Crime Prevention

There is no single definition for crime prevention. Different authors and studies offer varying definitions. Many early definitions actually used the term crime control either in place of crime prevention or within the definition. However, crime control alludes to maintenance of a given or existing level of crime and the management of that amount of crime behavior. True crime prevention looks to do more than just maintain a certain level of crime or to manage offenders and crime. Paul Ekblom offers a definition that revolves around interventions that reduce the risk of crime and its consequences. Such a definition addresses both crime and its impact on individuals and society. One of the very important consequences of crime that should be addressed in prevention initiatives is the fear of crime. While most definitions of crime prevention incorporate the ideas of lessening the actual levels of crime or limiting further increases in crime, few specifically deal with the problem of fear of crime and perceived crime and victimization. Steven P. Lab offers a definition that explicitly addresses crime and the fear of crime: Crime prevention entails any action designed to reduce the actual level of crime and/or the perceived fear of crime.

Crime prevention actions are not restricted to the efforts of the criminal justice system. They include activities by individuals and groups, both public and private. Just as there are many causes of crime, there are many potentially valuable approaches to crime prevention. This entry examines crime prevention from a very broad perspective. Included here is a discussion of the history of crime prevention, different crime prevention models, and major crime prevention approaches, as well as insight into the effectiveness of prevention activities.

History

Crime prevention is not a new idea. Indeed, for as long as people have been victimized there have been attempts to protect one's self and one's family. The term crime prevention, however, has only recently come to signify a set of ideas for combating crime. Many people suggest that crime prevention today is new and unique, particularly in terms of citizen participation. In reality, many recent activities classified as crime prevention can be seen throughout history. “New” crime prevention ideas and techniques are often little more than reincarnations of past practices or extensions of basic approaches in the (distant) past. It is only in the relatively recent past that the general citizenry has not been the primary line of defense against crime and victimization (Tilley, 2005).

The earliest responses to crime were left to the individual and his family. Retribution, revenge, and vengeance were the driving forces throughout early history. While such actions would serve to make the victim whole again, it also would eliminate the benefit gained by the offender. It was assumed that potential offenders would see little gain in an offense, thereby deterring the individual from taking action. The Code of Hammurabi (approximately 1900 BCE) outlined retribution by victims and/or their families as the accepted response to injurious ...