5. CRIME PREVENTION Flashcards
Define defensible space
Real or symbolic barriers that separate private space from public space
Also includes ability to survey territory
Aim of Newman
Investigates the difference between two New York housing projects on the levels of defensible space
Two housing projects, Newman
Van Dyke- increased area of open space
Brownsville- X shaped buildings, central staircase entrance + decorated communal areas
Newman method
Natural experiment
What did Newman measure
Crimes in each building
Maintenance jobs in each building
Results Newman
Less crime + maintenance jobs in Brownsville
What do Newmans results suggest
Neighbourhoods + buildings need defensible space to reduce crime
More windows + less people using entrances (windows= feel like being watched, entrances= looked after)
Methods of achieving defensible space
- zone of territorial influence- markers to show private area (e.g. fences)
- opportunities for surveillance- physical layout of building= intruders easily spotted (e.g. more windows)
- image- individuality should be emphasised as it suggests privacy + linked to zone of territory
- Milieu- surroundings of building (e.g. open space attracts vandalism more than organised court yards)
Pros of Newman
Useful applications
Natural experiment- more ecologically valid + generalisable
Quantitative data
Cons of Newman
Lacks population validity- only in NY Reduced control (natural exp)- cannot establish C+E Lack of qualitative data- other factors not considered/don't know why Socially sensitive- increases stereotypes
Zero tolerance definition
Respond vigorously to all criminal offences in an area, cracking down on petty crimes
Define the broken window theory
If petty crimes are not polices, it invites serious offenders to increase their activity
Why do areas invite crime
Physical factors- graffiti/litter/broken windows
Behavioural factors- public nuisance/prostitutes/gangs
What does the broken window theory + zero tolerance suggest
Police should reduce ‘quality of life’ crimes (vandalism) with a heavy handed approach
Bratton NYC
Introduction of zero tolerance in 1990s
Aimed to reduce crime
Sent officers to each subway station to address fare dodgers
2000 officers appointed to address low level crimes (e.g. vandalism)
After 3 years= 37% decrease in crime + 50% decrease in homicide rates
Wilson + Kelling
What was the article about
Explained broken window theory of crime + evaluated use of foot patrols in 1970s America
W+K
What happened in New Jersey
Foot patrols sent to neighbourhoods of 28 cities
Initially police chiefs didn’t like it as response time increased to callouts + officers saw it as a punishment
W+K
What happened after 5 years
Crime rates did not fall
However residents perception of crime improved- felt safer
Police officers had more +ve attitude + higher morale as felt they were helping communities
W+K
What makes people think their neighbourhood is safe
Perception of community- if people feel scared= increased likelihood of believing there are higher crime rates
Increased foot patrols main reason people felt safer
Implied informal rules- e.g. alcohol bottles in paper bags
W+K
Changes to police role
1980s- role changed from order maintenance to law enforcement
= can’t remove people from streets as they are being nuisances (e.g. drunkness) as it isn’t illegal
W+K
How were findings maintained
Need to find balance between law enforcement + order maintenance
Foot patrols in neighbourhoods but not all
W+K
PECH para for reduce population validity
P- Lacks population validity
E- 28 cities in American
C- Different opinions of crime in other countries not identified
H- Has useful applications for America
W+K
PECH for lacks control
P- lacks control
E- natural exp- no control over extraneous variables (employment rates)
C- cant accurately understand effects of foot patrols
H- increased ecological validity
W+K
PECH: lacks historical validity
P- lacks historical validity
E- conducted in 1982
C- attitudes have changed
H- may still be relevant to places theatre like America in the 80s
W+K
PECH- valid as crime statistics were used (quantitative)
P- stats
E- aware crime rates don’t decrease after 5 years
C- objectivity
H- social desirability bias- face to face interviews- reduces validity as might not be true
Strategies for crime prevention
Defensible space
Zero tolerance
CCTV
Purpose of CCTV
Used to reduce effects of deindividuation
- when people feel they cannot be identified they act in more anti-social ways
- helps isndividuate people
Brown aim
Investigate how CCTV would reduce the effects of deindividuation
Brown method
Natural exp
Brown procedure
Compared pre + post CCTv installation in 3 British cities
Birmingham, Newcastle, Kings Lynn
Brown results
CCTV very effective in all 3 areas
In Newcastle- burglary= reduced by 56% + criminal damage reduced by 34%
What does Browns research suggest
CCTV has +ve effect in reducing anti-social behaviour
Especially when people congregate in large groups
Pros of Brown
Useful applications- install CCTV
Natural exp- generalisable to other places
Quantitative data- objective
Cons of Brown
Expensive
Lacks qual data
Lacks control over extraneous variables (e.g. unemployment rates)
Ethnocentric (UK)
Describe how zero-tolerance policy can influence crime
AO2- how it works
Zero tolerance- respond vigorously to all criminal offences
Broken window theory- if petty crimes are not polices, it invites serious offenders to increase their activity
Physical factors (which invite crime)- graffiti/litter/broken windows
Behavioural- public nuisance/prositutes/ gangs
Suggests- reduce ‘quality of life’ crimes (vandalism) with heavy faded approach
Describe how zero-tolerance policy can influence crime
AO1- evidence
Bratton- aimed to reduce crime, sent officers to subway stations to address fare dodgers
2000 officers sent to address low level crime (e.g. vandalism)
After 3 years- reduction of 37% in crime rates, 50% reduction in homicidal rates
