DOI: 10.3886/icpsr02777
title: Security by Design: Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods in the United States, 1994-1996
title: Archival Version

description: This study was designed to collect comprehensive data on
 the types of "crime prevention through environmental design" (CPTED)
 methods used by cities of 30,000 population and larger, the extent to
 which these methods were used, and their perceived effectiveness. A
 related goal was to discern trends, variations, and expansion of CPTED
 principles traditionally employed in crime prevention and
 deterrence. "Security by design" stems from the theory that proper
 design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a
 reduction in the incidence and fear of crime and an improvement in
 quality of life. Examples are improving street lighting in high-crime
 locations, traffic re-routing and control to hamper drug trafficking
 and other crimes, inclusion of security provisions in city building
 codes, and comprehensive review of planned development to ensure
 careful consideration of security. To gather these data, the United
 States Conference of Mayors (USCM), which had previously studied a
 variety of issues including the fear of crime, mailed a survey to the
 mayors of 1,060 cities in 1994. Follow-up surveys were sent in 1995
 and 1996. The surveys gathered information about the role of CPTED in
 a variety of local government policies and procedures, local
 ordinances, and regulations relating to building, local development,
 and zoning. Information was also collected on processes that offered
 opportunities for integrating CPTED principles into local development
 or redevelopment and the incorporation of CPTED into decisions about
 the location, design, and management of public facilities. Questions
 focused on whether the city used CPTED principles, which CPTED
 techniques were used (architectural features, landscaping and
 landscape materials, land-use planning, physical security devices,
 traffic circulation systems, or other), the city department with
 primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with CPTED zoning
 ordinances/building codes and other departments that actively
 participated in that enforcement (mayor's office, fire department,
 public works department, planning department, city manager, economic
 development office, police department, building department, parks and
 recreation, zoning department, city attorney, community development
 office, or other), the review process for proposed development,
 security measures for public facilities, traffic diversion and
 control, and urban beautification programs. Respondents were also
 asked about other security-by-design features being used, including
 whether they were mandatory or optional, if optional, how they were
 instituted (legislation, regulation, state building code, or other),
 and if applicable, how they were legislated (city ordinance, city
 resolution, or state law). Information was also collected on the
 perceived effectiveness of each technique, if local development
 regulations existed regarding convenience stores, if joint code
 enforcement was in place, if banks, neighborhood groups, private
 security agencies, or other groups were involved in the traffic
 diversion and control program, and the responding city's population,
per capita income, and form of government.
description: Crime prevention and deterrence rank among the
 top priorities of local governments. "Security by design" stems from
 the theory that proper design and effective use of the built
 environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime
 and an improvement in quality of life. Examples are improving street
 lighting in high-crime locations, traffic re-routing and control to
 hamper drug trafficking and other crimes, inclusion of security
 provisions in city building codes, and comprehensive review of planned
 development to ensure careful consideration of security. This study
 was designed to collect comprehensive data on the types of "crime
 prevention through environmental design" (CPTED) methods used by
 cities of 30,000 population and larger, the extent to which these
 methods were used, and their perceived effectiveness. A related goal
 was to discern trends, variations, and expansion of CPTED principles
 traditionally employed in crime prevention and deterrence. The
 information was used to develop a resource manual, workshops, and
 conferences for city officials, business groups, and community
leaders.
description: To study the types of crime prevention through
 environmental design (CPTED) methods employed by cities, the United
 States Conference of Mayors (USCM), which had previously studied a
 variety issues including the fear of crime, mailed a survey to the
 mayors of 1,060 cities in 1994. Follow-up surveys were sent in 1995
 and 1996. The surveys gathered information about the role of CPTED in
 a variety of local government policies and procedures, local
 ordinances, and regulations relating to building, local development,
 and zoning. Information was also collected on processes that offered
 opportunities for integrating CPTED principles into local development
 or redevelopment and the incorporation of CPTED into decisions about
the location, design, and management of public facilities.
description: Questions focused on whether the city used CPTED
 principles, which CPTED techniques were used (architectural features,
 landscaping and landscape materials, land-use planning, physical
 security devices, traffic circulation systems, or other), the city
 department with primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with
 CPTED zoning ordinances/building codes and other departments that
 actively participated in that enforcement (mayor's office, fire
 department, public works department, planning department, city
 manager, economic development office, police department, building
 department, parks and recreation, zoning department, city attorney,
 community development office, or other), the review process for
 proposed development, security measures for public facilities, traffic
 diversion and control, and urban beautification programs. Respondents
 were also asked about other security-by-design features being used,
 including whether they were mandatory or optional, if optional, how they were
 instituted (legislation, regulation, state building code, or other),
 and if applicable, how they were legislated (city ordinance, city
 resolution, or state law). Information was also collected on the
 perceived effectiveness of each technique, if local development
 regulations existed regarding convenience stores, if joint code
 enforcement was in place, if banks, neighborhood groups, private
 security agencies, or other groups were involved in the traffic
 diversion and control program, and the responding city's population,
per capita income, and form of government.
description: Response Rates: Of the 1,060 cities surveyed, 323 returned a
survey, for a total response rate of 30 percent.
description: Presence of Common Scales: None.
description: None.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Security by Design: Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods in the United States, 1994-1996
description: Cities with 30,000 population or larger in the United
States.
description: The codebook, user guide, and data collection
 instrument are provided as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The
 PDF file format was developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated and can be
 accessed using PDF reader software, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
 Information on how to obtain a copy of the Acrobat Reader is provided
through the ICPSR Website on the Internet.