Fear and Safety in Public Spaces Kristen Day, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Planning, Policy, and Design University of California, Irvine

Crime & safety in the US Consider actual crime and fear of crime Can have fear problem without crime problem Photo:

Crime down in US since 1994 Violent crime down 58% -From 714 to 466 victimizations/ 100,000 people Property crime down 52% -From 4660 to 3,517 crimes/ 100,000 people Source: 2004 FBI Uniform Crime report.

Minnesota crime trends Crime down since Up slightly in 2004 MN rates are less than US average -270 violent crimes/100,000 people -3,039 property crimes/100,000 people Source: 2004 FBI Uniform Crime report. Photo: minnesota.publicradio.org Neighborhood watch patrol

Fear of crime 38% of people fear walking alone at night in own neighborhood in US - 19% of men - 47% of women % stays same, though crime drops Crime is localized; fear is widespread Source: Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics Online, Table 2.37, 2005 Photo:

Who is affected? Violent crime is highest among low income, minority (black, Hispanic), young (< age 25), men, urban residents - Men = victims by strangers Women = victims by non-strangers Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, September 2006, NCJ

Fear is highest among elderly women, black & Hispanic people Who fears walking alone in own neighborhood at night? -41% non-white adults, 30% white adults -47% women, 19% men Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Sourcebook, 2002; Gordon, S. & Riger, M. (1989). The female fear, New York: Free Press.

Crimes in Public Places Crime not distributed evenly -In “hot spots” Hot spots = - High concentration of potential offenders - Easy access - Concentration of criminal targets - Few guardians or controllers Hot spots are 1 st target for planning, design

Public spaces/public crime & disorder Parks, outdoors areas -Sexual assaults, robberies, drug dealing,graffiti, vagrancy Parking lots - Theft of/from cars, robbery, sexual assault Transit stations - Personal, property crime at station, nearby Entertainment areas (bars, stadia, etc.) - Assaults, pickpockets, property crimes Shopping centers - Shoplifting, public disorder (disorderly conduct, vagrancy, drugs, gang activity, etc.)

Fear in Public Places (1)Low prospect (2)High refuge (3)High boundedness

Prospect Low (–)High (+)

Refuge High (–)Low (+)

Boundedness High (–)Low (+)

Social and Physical Incivilities Photos: in-washington-dc-13; in-washington-dc-13

Also, consider places where people fear hassling or harassment -Of women - Of people of color -Of gays/lesbians/transgenders Includes specific cities, neighborhoods, public spaces, wilderness spaces Photo:

Impacts of crime, fear on health Violence, homicide Stress Reduced physical activity - Groups with highest fear = highest obesity rates, low physical activity Isolation, poor quality of life Photo: news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/ stm.

Impacts on communities Impacts hard to disentangle Can include fear, distrust, neglect, limited involvement, low sense of community Photo: vzaliva.livejournal.com/tag/photo. Limits community development, investment

Design for safety History - Jane Jacobs: “Eyes on the street” - Oscar Newman: Defensible space - James Q. Wilson & George Kelling: Broken windows theory - C. Ray Jeffrey: Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)

CPTED = criminology focus -Keep criminals out Safescape = urban planning focus - Public safety - Promote sense of community Photos: Different approaches

Safescape principles Address fear and crime Principles (1)Seeing and being seen (2)Socializing and interaction (3)Stewardship and ownership (4)Information and orientation Zelinka, A. & Brennan, D. (2001). Safescape. Creating safer, more livable communities through planning and design. Chicago: American Planning Association.

People act responsibly when can be seen by others We feel safer when can clearly see surroundings (1)Seeing and being seen

Photos: crimeprevention.rutgers.edu/.../cart_block.htm; www1.br.cc.va.us/murray/research/cpted/role_o…; Allow clear views Consider sight lines -Windows, landscaping, street walls Few hiding spaces Security cameras are not a substitute for natural surveillance

Appropriate lighting Exterior of buildings well lit -Especially rear areas Special treatment for pedestrian areas Photos: mediaroom.visitpa.com/ imageGallery.aspx?file_…;

Activity generators Accessory uses = eyes on the street - Ground floor retail - Outdoor dining - Public spaces - Support for pedestrians Photos: ;

(2)Socializing and interaction Environments often isolate us Design, planning can encourage interaction, socializing, looking out for others Reduces fear

Mixed uses Different uses in walking distance -Lively on weekends, evenings Activity generators: -Post office, police station, court houses, some types of retail Photos: you-are-here.com/building/printers.html;

Vibrant public realm Support interaction with strangers - Public art, music, programming, support for kids, dogs Encourage spending time - Farmers markets, outdoor dining, plazas, vendors, outdoor seating Photos: rg/downtown_direct…; age=press; private/oldsite/gal_1.html age=presswww.mystclair.com/

Activated alleys and lively sidewalks Alleys, rear of buildings = lifeless - Make these spaces lively, well-maintained Sidewalk are movement predictors - Don’t isolate from cars, link to activities Photos:chesnes.com/seattle.html;

(3)Stewardship and ownership Maintain, protect environment Others will respect it

Hierarchy of spaces Clear differentiation: public/semi-public/semi-private/private - Tells people where they belong -Heightens stewardship Photos:

High quality environment Few amenities shows lack of ownership, pride -Deferred maintenance, obsolete infrastructure, few services High quality environment promotes feeling safe Photos:

Discourage graffiti Minimize blank walls - Public art - Strategic landscaping Graffiti abatement and removal program Photos: ktwu.washburn.edu/.../sj2003/sj1608.html; home.powertech.no/vifo/sksk/skibotn/

(4)Information and orientation Need to know where you are, where you are going, what to avoid, to reduce fear Wayfinding information can increase comfort, feeling safe

Landmarks Know where you are - From far away and nearby Consider landmarks for drivers, walkers Photos: clocktower.htm; clocktower.htm

Photos: technology.com/cont ractors/baggag…; nvironmental/wayfind ing2.html; com/PikeRide/bus_st ops.htm nvironmental/wayfind ing2.html Signage Sufficient in # Uncluttered in appearance

Photos: unit501.tripod.com/lbc/2006 /index.htm; Other orientation aides - Hierarchy of entrances - Directories - Pavement markings Informed pedestrians have sense of direction, self-confidence -Deters crime

Lessons for planning Can’t ignore deeper factors that create crime Crime, fear prevention goes along with economic, community development -Jobs, affordable housing, quality schools

Resources Publications Crowe, T. & NCPI (2000). Crime prevention through environmental design. 2nd Ed. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann. Colquhoun, I. (2004). Design out crime: Creating safe and sustainable communities. Burlington, MA : Architectural Press. National Crime Prevention Council. (1997). Designing safer communities: A CPTED handbook. 1/800/NCPC-911.

Publications (continued) Taylor, R.B. & Harrell, A. V. (1996). Physical environment and crime. Washington, D.C. : National Institute of Justice. Wekerle, G. R. & Whitzman, C. (1995). Safe cities. Guidelines for planning, design, and management. NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Zelinka, A. & Brennan, D. (2001). Safescape. Creating safer, more livable communities through planning and design. Chicago: American Planning Association.

Organizations & Websites The International CPTED Association (ICA). International membership organization, CPTED resource listings. Secured by Design. Official UK police website for security and designing out crime. National Crime Prevention Council. CPTED training, publications. APA Safe Growth checklist.