AC 3.2 Flashcards
How can built environment affect the levels of crime?
Presenting potential offenders with opportunities to commit crime;
Affecting people’s ability to socially control their surroundings.
How does newmans defensible and indefensible spaces work?
Architect Oscar Newman argued that some spaces are DEFENSIBLE whereas others are not.
Studied high-rise blocks in New York.
Found that 55% of all crime occurred in public spaces, e.g. hallways, lifts, stairwells & lobbies.
Where is crime more likely to happen according to newman?
‘INDEFENSIBLE SPACE’ – i.e. ‘confused’ areas of public space, e.g. stairwells in blocks of flats, because no one feels they have OWNERSHIP or RESPONSIBILITY over them.
What did C Ray jeffery argue about crime prevemntion?
. Ray Jeffery claimed that the built environment can either CREATE or DENY opportunities to criminals
What 5 things does CPTED consider when designing a new environment?
access
surveillance
order maintenance
territoriality
physical maintenance
What did alice coleman study and what did she find?
4,050 blocks of flats (in London & Oxfordshire) built after WW2.
She cited the following as the main problems caused by the design of block flats - Anonymity, lack of surveillance & easy escape reduce crime control.
What were colemans 4 recommendations for urban planning?
No more high-rise flats.
Each existing block should have its own private space for residents.
Overwalks should be removed because these obstruct surveillance – these are ‘streets in the sky’.
What are gated lanes an example of?
CPTED
What is the aim of gated lanes?
Aim is to prevent burglaries, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour
how do gated lanes work?
Works by discouraging offending through ‘TARGET HARDENING’ Gates provide a physical barrier – increasing effort needed to commit crime
How does a panopticon prison work?
Cells are visible from a central viewing point, e.g. a watchtower.
Prisoners housed in individual cells.
Each prisoner couldn’t really see other prisoners; AND
Prisoners couldn’t see the guards from this central point - so would be unaware of whether they were being observed or not.
what was the aim of a panoptican prison?
This idea is thought to change prisoner’s behaviour - he becomes self-regulating.
How does the panoptican prison link to surveillance theory?
Bentham argued that prisoners held in the Panopticon would do the same.
Who created the broken windows theory?
WILSON & KELLING
Explanation of the broken windows theory
W & K emphasise the importance of preventing urban decay in to prevent more serious crime occurring. Maintenance and monitoring of urban environments contributes to social order by, e.g. preventing criminal damage, prostitution and anti-social behaviour.
Who came up with the rational choice theory?
Clarke
Explain the rational choice theory
Offenders make a rational choice to commit crime based on a cost-benefit analysis. Clarke suggested that instead of increasing punishment, society should take steps to prevent crime
Who created the routine activity theory?
COHEN & FELSON
Explain the routine activity theory
For crime to occur, there must be:
A motivated offender
A suitable target (a victim and/or property)
Absence of a ‘capable guardian’ (such as the police or neighbours).
