Defensible Space in Suburban Townhouse Design - A Case Study of Six California Developments (A Methodological Review) (From Link Between Crime and the Built Environment, Volume 2, P C335-C342, 1980, by Tetsuro Motoyama et al - See NCJ-79544)

• NCJ Number: 79571
• Author(s): T Motoyama; H Rubenstein; P Hartjens
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Institutes for Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche from NCJRS as NCJ-79544.

Annotation

This review assesses a study by Dennis Dingemans, Susan Garfield, and Tanya Olson that examined the impact of 'defensible space' townhouse design features upon residents' fear of crime and the economies of housing provision.

Abstract

Data were collected using observational techniques and interviews with residents of six townhouse developments. The observers developed a checklist of 'territoriality and surveillance features' derived from Newman's 'defensible space' theories, and the developments were evaluated by use of the checklist. Further, the observers recorded their judgments about the adequacy of each development's division into a hierarchy of territorial obligations. Residents were then surveyed to determine their attitudes and behavior related to a sense of security vis-a-vis crime threats. The study concluded that the design of the developments has ignored the creation of surveillance opportunities and the establishment of clear territorial obligations for residents, and recommendations are offered for improving design that will facilitate residents' surveillance of surrounding property. The conclusions and recommendations, however, are not supported by any data reported in the study. The issue of residents' fear of crime in relation to design features was not addressed in the analysis. The study's conclusions and recommendations appear to be drawn directly from Newman's theses without independent support from the data and analyses of the study. For the original report, see NCJ 41387.