NCJ Number
132428
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 81-82,84,86
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines contemporary trends in school design and their effects on behavior, with particular reference to crime prevention.
Abstract
Today's school planners and architects have committed themselves to the general objective of personalizing space to give each person the perception of ownership. This principle translates to the identification of territories within the school campus. Responsibility for the general supervision and care of these newly assigned territories goes with the ownership. This is a fundamental concept of space management for the purpose of crime prevention. Significant school problem areas that require space-management design considerations are school grounds, parking lots, locker rooms, corridors, restrooms, and classrooms. Problems on school grounds stem from poorly defined campus borders, undifferentiated campus areas, isolated areas, and poorly located bus loading areas. Parking lot problems typically include poor planning, conflict with the neighborhood, poor placement, and landscaping. Problems associated with lockers and locker rooms include the assignment of more than one student to a locker, similar locker design and color, and isolation. Corridor problems include blind spots due to poor planning and class scheduling that promotes confusion and congestion. Restroom security problems typically stem from location and unsafe design, and the environmental causes of classroom problems are multipurpose classroom use and isolation. General strategies for addressing these problems are offered.