Explanation
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to crime reduction that focuses on modifying the built environment to influence offender decisions and improve community safety. Key principles include natural surveillance (designing spaces so people can easily observe their surroundings), access control (guiding or limiting movement through spaces), territorial reinforcement (marking clear boundaries to signal ownership), and maintenance (ensuring spaces are cared for to signal control and deter crime). CPTED emphasizes proactive planning to prevent crime opportunities before they arise. It is widely used in urban planning, architecture, and policing strategies.
Theoretical Reference
See the overview of Situational Crime Prevention for related approaches. For broader context, explore Urban Crime Prevention and the Broken Windows theory, which shares a focus on environmental cues and maintenance.