CPTED Student Groups

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a high-school based program to prevent violence and improve social cohesion through built environment changes. Students conduct safety assessments on and near their campus and recommend solutions to district administration.

Greenfield High School embraced school pride with beautification efforts of their campus. They are creating a new mural for the quad and upgrading the school’s greenery.

Rancho San Juan High School students are leaving their mark on this new campus. They are using art to bring life to empty spaces while creating a sense of community and culture.

Salinas High School students designed and created a new garden space to bring more nature onto campus and provide a place that students can utilize to relax.

Everett Alvarez High School developed a community room. Students noted a lack of safe spaces in the area and wanted to provide a welcoming place at school.

Youth Violence Prevention in Action

Territorial Reinforcement

Image

Natural Surveillance

Access Control

CPTED attempts to reduce opportunity for crime by shaping the environment and focusing on the ‘place’ side of The Crime Triangle, as shown below. CPTED uses four different elements to strengthen the security and personal safety of an area. CPTED strategies are intended to reduce victimization, deter offenders’ decisions prior to criminal activity, build a sense of community among residents, and minimize fear of crime (International CPTED Association).

The Crime Triangle

The 4 Elements of CPTED

• Territorial Reinforcement
• Implications of ownership of a space
• Image
• How a place is perceived
• Natural Surveillance
• Is a place easily observable
• Access Control
• does a place have a point of entry?