Crime Prevention through Environmental Design: Challenges and Dangers of Practical Implementation in the Republic of South Africa

• In Event: Designing Environmental Approaches to Crime Policy: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

The present paper discusses the risks of utilizing the environmental criminology framework and, specifically, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) in the Republic of South Africa (SA). Since the 1980s, CPTED has been the source of avid debate between design determinists and social theorists over the central causes of crime. While supporters of CPTED argue it is an important tool for designing safer environments, it is not a fix-all solution to crime problems and must be location-specific. Due to the unique historical experience of SA being racially divided for decades, its current geographical landscape continues to be highly segregated and poverty and inequality are widespread. Not only do such conditions give rise to increased crime rates, but can contribute towards serious dangers in implementation of CPTED, such as augmenting racial divide, creating more gated communities, social division and access restrictions. We assess possible challenges and dangers of the practical implementation of CPTED in SA and attempt to give recommendations for its successful execution, arguing it must include broader programs of crime prevention and social development. Any programs of CPTED should take into consideration individual specifications of communities and seek to distribute social justice and crime prevention benefits equitably and fairly.

Authors

• Valeriya Metla, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

• Alexandra Hiropoulos, CUNY Graduate Center

• Jeremy Reed Porter, CUNY Graduate Center