ABSTRACT
In the early 1960s, criminologists became particularly interested in identifying the environmental characteristics associated with crime. These characteristics are associated with the immediate environment rather than broader social factors, such as poverty, racism, gender inequality, exposure to violence through the media, and criminal laws. Environmental design alone will not prevent all violent acts within schools. However, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is a promising prevention strategy that, if shown to be effective, may lead to reducing fear among students and teachers, to more positive social interactions, and to safer schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contracted with S. Plaster Carter and Carter Associates, a partnership of urban planning and law enforcement professionals specializing in CPTED, to develop a tool to assess the consistency of physical characteristics of schools with CPTED principles. This tool, the CPTED School Assessment, assesses the application of CPTED principles in three geographic areas of schools: grounds, buildings, and interiors.
