NCJ Number
66704
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS RESEARCH PAPER REVIEWS CURRENT WORK ON QUESTIONS OF PARK CRIME AND CONFLICT, DISCUSSES PROBLEMS WITH DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, AND DESCRIBES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO FURTHER STUDY.
Abstract
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS AN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN RECREATIONAL SETTINGS, PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AAEAS. FEAR OF CRIME IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR INFLUENCING URBAN PARK USE. THERE IS ALSO A CORRELATION BETWEEN HIGH PARK USE AND HIGH NUMBERS OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS. CRIME DATA IS DIFFICULT TO ANALYZE FOR PARKS, AND DEPENDS ON THE SIZE AND PATROL CAPABILITIES OF PARK POLICE OR RANGERS AS WELL AS REPORTS ON CRIMES BY PARK USERS. YET CRIMES IN THE PARKS APPEAR TO BE INCREASING, AND INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM REQUIRES MORE THAN AN ANALYSIS OF OFFICIAL RECORDS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES AN EXPLORATORY PROJECT TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO INVESTIGATING ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN URBAN RECREATION AREAS. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, THE RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE RECORDING SITE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT PARK DESIGN, PROTECTIVE FEATURES, LANDSCAPING, ACCESS, AND MOVEMENT PATTERNS TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL RESEARCH APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS OF CRIME AND CONFLICT IN THE PARKS. INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH PARK ENFORCEMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE STAFFS TO ASCERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. VISITOR'S ACTIVITIES IN THE PARKS WILL BE EXAMINED. GOALS OF THE RESEARCH ARE TO DEFINE AND IDENTIFY THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CRIME NAD CONFLICT IN URBAN PARK SETTING, IDENTIFY THE KEY VARIABLES, AND DEVELOP ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES THAT WILL ASSIST PLANNERS AND DECISIONMAKERS TO PROVIDE SAFE RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. MAJOR DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS WILL BE MADE IN SIX TO 8 URBAN AND SUBURBAN PARKS IN MICHIGAN. THE STUDY IS PART OF A U.S. FOREST SERVICE URBAN FOREST RECREATION RESEARCH PROJECT. APPROXIMATELY 50 REFERENCES ARE CITED.