The Behavior Analyst

, Volume 10, Issue 1, pp 69–74 | Cite as

Crime Prevention Through Social and Physical Environmental Change

  • Michael T. Nietzel
  • Melissa J. Himelein
Article
First Online:

Abstract

One approach to crime prevention where behavior analysts can make important contributions is the modification of environmental opportunities and victim vulnerabilities that are related to higher rates of offending. Examples of environmental crime prevention are discussed in the following areas: (1) modifying physical environments in order to “harden” targets of crime, (2) training victims to be less vulnerable to victimization, (3) eliminating portrayals of certain groups of people that legitimize their victimization, and (4) organizing neighborhoods and communities to strengthen their means of social control. Two implications of environmental crime prevention—the role of individual differences and the scope of prevention—are discussed.

Key words

crime prevention target hardening victimization community organization 
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Copyright information

© Association for Behavior Analysis International 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michael T. Nietzel
    • 1
  • Melissa J. Himelein
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PsychologyUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonUSA

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