Effectiveness of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) in Reducing Robberies

Carri Casteel, MPH, Corinne Peek-Asa, PhD

Social experiments have been done to see if environmental design plays a factor in influencing violence. One in particular, found that design of a conveniencestore alone could decrease the amount of robberies by up to 84% (Castee & Peek-Asa). An example of this could be time-delayed safes for storing money, rather than leaving it in a cash register.

A great deal of robbery related crimes can be affected by controlling the business environment. Similarly, workplace violence is also controllable and reducable through environmental design. Not necessarily in the form of robbery, but perhaps prevention of violent acts.

Alcohol is known to be responsible for a large number of violent crimes, and is almost always involved in violence within nightclubs. There are no doubt some designs for bars that would reduce the number of incidents. For example, having suitable positions for bouncers to stand that allows them to see the entire room without obstruction. Additionally, adequate exits for removing a patron from the bar as quickly as possible.

It’s logical to conclude that the overall set-up of a nightclub could be designed in such a way that the number of incidents were decreased.