“SafeScape Principles” for crime prevention

Dean Brennan and Al Zelinka, two community planners who are writing a book on design for safety and crime reduction, report that the New Urbanism “clearly plays an important role in eliminating fear of crime and the perception of crime.” The authors have defined nine “SafeScape Principles” to reduce the likelihood of crime in neighborhoods. These are: 1) Enclosure and escape — providing directional choices, clearly defined spaces, and eliminating opportunities for concealment within any given location. 2) Access and movement — facilitating or restricting accessibility to spaces based on the intended uses and users of that space. 3) Wayfinding and information — using signs and other design features to guide people to their destinations. 4) Seeing and being seen — optimizing visibility to and from spaces in a manner that supports informal surveillance of people and activities. 5) Socialization and interaction — encouraging informal gathering of people to sustain a sense of community. 6) Activity and programming — facilitating the formal organization of events and land uses to generate activity and vitality. 7) Stewardship and ownership — encouraging citizens to assuming responsibility and care for private property and the public realm. 8) Land uses and compatibilities — arranging and mixing land uses to generate and sustain productive activities. 9) Management and maintenance of places for their intended use and in their optimal physical condition. Principles are appropriate both for inner cities and suburban sites, according to Zelinka. Two case studies profiled by the authors, Middleton Hills and Trinity College, are illustrated in the images above and below. The authors are accepting case studies until February 15, 1999. Contact Zelinka (949) 472-3417 or Brennan (602) 262-4499. u