21st Century Security and CPTED, 2nd Edition

501

22

Creating Safe and

Secure Environments for

Schools and Colleges

Randall I. Atlas, RichardH.Schneider,

and Tod Schneider

Creating safe schools (elementary through college) is a community-wide responsibility, although

day-to-day operations are primarily the responsibility of the teachers, administrators, and security

or law enforcement ofcers at the schools. But before the rst student walks the halls, architects,

planners, and landscape architects, working with input from local stakeholders, design the school.

Their skill and creativity, local budget limitations, and stakeholder priorities will each play a role in

limiting or adjusting design features. The building that results will inuence health, safety, human

behavior, and overall effectiveness of the school for a long time to come (Figure 22.1).

A good administrator could run a great school in an “old red barn” (see Figure 22.2) but it would

take a lot more effort and supervision than it would in a well-designed and functional academic

space. The basic premise behind applying CPTED to schools is that the effective use, design, and

management of the built environment can reduce opportunities for crime and the fear of crime, can

enhance the overall safety and effectiveness of the school, and generally can improve the quality of

life for anyone using the school.

CONTENTS

Context ........................................................................................................................................... 502

Some CPTED-Related Responses .................................................................................................505

School Users..............................................................................................................................507

Understanding the Unique School Environment ...........................................................................508

Community Input and Funding ...................................................................................................... 509

Value of Student Input and Knowledge ......................................................................................... 512

Locating the Ofce......................................................................................................................... 514

Safe and Secure School Design Principles .................................................................................... 515

Access and Egress Issues: Pedestrians, Vehicles, and Guardianship ........................................ 519

Specic Design Strategies ..............................................................................................................522

General Guidelines .........................................................................................................................549

On the Horizon ............................................................................................................................... 551

Case Studies ................................................................................................................................... 552

Efciency and Technology ............................................................................................................. 553

Summary: Closing Thoughts on School Safety ............................................................................. 555

References ...................................................................................................................................... 556

502 21st Century Security and CPTED

CONTEXT

Many schools have been designed as fortresses over the last two decades because of the fear of

violent crime. In 1998, over 2000 juveniles were murdered nationwide (OJJDP, 1999). Juveniles

as a demographic were involved in 12% of murder arrests, 35% of burglary, 27% of robberies, and

24% of weapons arrests (OJJDP, 1999). Thirty-seven percent of schools (U.S. DOE, 1998) had one

to ve serious crimes at their schools, and 20% reported six or more crimes. Forty-ve percent of

elementary schools reported one or more violent crimes occurred within the school property, and

74% of middle school, and 77% of high schools (U.S. DOE, 1998, p. v). Fear exists in our schools

for good reason (see Figure 22.3).

Some of the most notorious events in recent history include:

8/1/66—Charles Whitman barricades himself on the observation deck of the tower at the

University of Texas, Austin and shoots 45 people, killing 14.

1/15/78—Ted Bundy enters Chi Omega sorority house, kills two women, and assaults three

others.

(a) (b)

FIGURE 22.1 (a) School zones are specially legislated areas where special drug enforcement rules can

be enforced. (b) It is not easy being a student or a parent in today’s school system. (From Darrin Bell,

www. darrinbell.com. ©1999. With permission.)

FIGURE 22.2 Going back to old school … very old school. A one-room school and how it used to be done.