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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

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Results for parks, urban

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Author: McCormick, Joel G.

Title: National Evaluation of Crime Prevention Strategies in Urban Parks: Using Rational Choice Theory to Understand Decisions of Park Directors and Professors

Summary: Crime and fear of crime is increasing in recreational settings Chavez, Tynon, & Knap, 2004, Manning et al., 2001; Pendleton, 2000; Shore, 1994). However, research on the effectiveness of crime prevention programs in urban parks, rural parks, or national forest/park lands is scarce. This dissertation utilized a three paper format to gain a more complete understanding of how Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design CPTED) principles observation, access control, territoriality and maintenance) are taught and applied in urban parks. Paper one evaluates crime prevention strategies currently being employed by public park managers in the United States. Paper two applies a combination of descriptive statistics and qualitative methods to investigate Rational Choice Theory as a decision making tool for implementing CPTED) strategies to reduce crime and fear of crime in urban parks. The third paper examines whether and how CPTED is being taught at the college level. This paper also uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate college professors decisions to teach CPTED using a Rational Choice framework. In papers one and two, a web based survey link was e-mailed to the directors of municipal recreation and park agencies in the 250 largest cities in the United States. A total of 129 agencies responded 52%). In paper three, a different web based survey link was e-mailed to 100 college professors across the United States. A total of 72 professors responded. The results indicate that 45% of park directors in the United States have received training in crime prevention strategies. A belief that the occurrence of crime was not a problem in parks was reported by 66% of park directors. However, when presented with the statement, “reducing fear of crime in the park that I manage is a priority” 55% of park directors agreed. Over two-thirds of the professors agreed that crime in parks was a problem; even more agreed that fear of crime in parks was a problem, but only one-third stated that they would make it a priority to do something about it. Only 24% of professors in this study included CPTED strategies in their classes. The main reason given for not including these strategies was “lack of knowledge” of CPTED. There appears to be a need to bring awareness about fear of crime and strategies to the forefront of the field. Park directors should increase their efforts to reduce crime opportunities in their parks and most academicians need to increase their awareness and teaching of CPTED strategies to address problems that have real world applications. Further research in park safety for visitors is needed.

Details: Florida: University of Florida, 2011. 125p.

Source: Dissertation: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2012 at http://www.socscience.com/social-sciences/17825.html

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.socscience.com/social-sciences/17825.html

Shelf Number: 126073

Keywords:
Crime Prevention
Evaluative Studies
Parks, Urban
Rational Choice Theory