ABSTRACT
Creating safe schools (elementary through college) is the responsibility of the entire community where a school or school system resides. Yet the day-to-day operation is primarily the responsibility of the teachers, administrators, and security or law enforcement officers at the school. But, before the first student walks the halls, an architect creates the design of the school and what will be the subsequent relationships between people and their buildings. The success or failure of that school is predisposed to the quality of design and the limitations of budgets. A good administrator could run a great school in an “old red barn,” but it is sure going to take a lot more effort and supervision than in a well-designed and functional academic space. The basic CPTED premise is that through the effective use and design and management of the built environment, there can be a reduction in the opportunity and fear of crime, and result in the improvement in the quality of life. If we can build effective spaces using CPTED in the next generation of schools, we will substantially reduce the opportunity and fear of crime in them.
