The Architecture of Exclusion: Examining the Role of Urban Design in Crime Prevention and Social Control

• In Event: Critical Issues in Policy and Governance

Abstract

Urban spaces are increasingly shaped by defensive architectural strategies to deter crime and maintain public safety (Newman, 1996). However, these interventions often have unintended social and criminological outcomes that provoke critical questions about their impact and ethical implications, including crime displacement and the marginalization of vulnerable populations (Carr, 2020). This study investigates the complex role of hostile environmental architecture (HEA) and crime prevention strategies in shaping urban landscapes by examining patterns of crime reduction, displacement, and public sentiment toward exclusionary urban design (Rosenberger, 2019). Using a mixed-methods approach, this research draws from spatial crime data, sentiment analysis, and policy evaluations to comprehensively assess how these measures may inadvertently reinforce social control and exacerbate inequality. Drawing from a multidisciplinary framework, this study critically examines accessibility and equity in public spaces (De Fine Licht, 2017), shedding light on the broader societal consequences of designing public spaces to deter unwanted behaviors (Knox & Pinch, 2017; Whelley, 2014). The findings call for a reassessment of urban policy that balances safety with social justice and community inclusivity.

Authors

• Haneen J. Alani, University of New Haven

• David Webb, University of New Haven