PSC Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is credited with originating the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)?
- Oscar Newman
- C. Ray Jeffery (Correct answer)
- Marcus Felson
- Lawrence Cohen
Correct answer: C. Ray Jeffery
C. Ray Jeffery coined the term CPTED in his 1971 book, proposing that the physical environment could be designed to reduce criminal opportunity.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes 'natural surveillance' in CPTED?
- Installing security cameras throughout a facility
- Maximizing visibility through design so occupants can observe the environment (Correct answer)
- Hiring security guards to patrol the perimeter
- Using motion-activated lighting to detect intruders
Correct answer: Maximizing visibility through design so occupants can observe the environment
Natural surveillance relies on design elements that maximize visibility, enabling legitimate users to observe potential criminal activity without electronic aids or additional personnel.
Question 3: The CPTED strategy of 'territorial reinforcement' is BEST achieved by:
- Installing barbed wire fencing along the perimeter
- Using design elements that express ownership and define space (Correct answer)
- Deploying security personnel at all entry points
- Implementing biometric access controls at doorways
Correct answer: Using design elements that express ownership and define space
Territorial reinforcement uses physical features, signage, and landscaping to define ownership and communicate that a space is monitored and actively maintained.
Question 4: 'Defensible space,' a concept closely related to CPTED, was developed by:
- C. Ray Jeffery
- Lawrence Cohen
- Oscar Newman (Correct answer)
- Herman Goldstein
Correct answer: Oscar Newman
Oscar Newman developed the defensible space concept in the early 1970s by studying how the physical design of public housing could reduce crime.
Question 5: Which CPTED strategy involves designing pedestrian and vehicle pathways to funnel people through monitored areas?
- Territorial reinforcement
- Natural surveillance
- Maintenance
- Natural access control (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Natural access control
Natural access control uses design elements such as walkways, lighting, and landscaping to guide movement and discourage access to restricted areas.
Question 6: According to CPTED principles, overgrown landscaping near building entrances is problematic primarily because it:
- Creates slip-and-fall liability hazards
- Provides concealment opportunities for criminal activity (Correct answer)
- Damages the building foundation over time
- May violate local municipal codes
Correct answer: Provides concealment opportunities for criminal activity
Overgrown landscaping reduces natural surveillance by creating concealment spots that potential offenders can exploit to approach or wait near an entrance unobserved.
Question 7: The 'maintenance' component of CPTED is primarily grounded in which criminological theory?
- Routine Activity Theory
- Rational Choice Theory
- Broken Windows Theory (Correct answer)
- Social Disorganization Theory
Correct answer: Broken Windows Theory
CPTED maintenance is tied to Broken Windows Theory, which holds that visible signs of neglect signal a lack of oversight and invite further disorder and crime.
PSC Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) 1
Who is credited with originating the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)?