Use passive, non-threatening design to modify behavior resulting in safer spaces. Study of Court-Targeted Acts of Violence indicates 406 incidents in the 2005-2012 study. Design guidelines to be discussed here include the US General Services Administration P-100 and Site Security Design Standards; New Zealand National Guidelines for Crime Prevention, and CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design).
GSA P-100 is about:
- Physical Deterrence
- Psychological Deterrence
- Clear Expectations for Use
- Surveillance
New Zealand National Guidelines for Crime Prevention is about:
- Access – safe movement
- Surveillance and sightlines
- Layout – clear and logical orientation
- Activity mix – eyes on the street
- Sense of ownership – showing a space is cared for (broken window theory)
- Quality environments – well-designed, well-managed, well-maintained
- Physical protection
CPTED is about:
- Natural Surveillance – eyes of the street (second floor window looking down to dumpster area, for instance). Tree branches are to be 10 feet off the ground, well-illuminated paths in parking areas visible from windows, no dead ends or blind spots.
- Natural Access Control (Use change in level or fences to control people’s paths). Do not create a visual barrier or hiding place, graphics identifying destinations, doors visible from circulation
- Natural Territorial Reinforcement - signs clearly marking entrances or destinations. Sidewalks clearly marked. Anti-climb wall separating loading area from public area
- Management
FIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR SAFE PUBLIC SPACES
- Layers of security - Site Perimeter, Site Access, Site and Building envelope, Security Screening
- Restricted Points of Entry
- Unobstructed View of Destination
- Universally Accessible Path. Courthouse steps often restrict wheelchair users from using the same paths as others
- Clear and Logical Orientation: first time visitor should know the paths at one glance