REVIEW ARTICLE
From Residential Utopia to Dystopia: Place-Based Criminology and the Need for CPTED in New Urbanist Communities
Allison Martin, Ph.D.
Department of Justice Studies, San José State University, USA
First published: 12 March 2025
Cite the article: Martin, A. (2025). From residential utopia to dystopia: Place-based criminology and the need for CPTED in New Urbanist communities. The CPTED Journal of The International CPTED Association. Available at: https://www.thecptedjournal.net/2025-martin.html
Author correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract
Newly built and restored areas featuring principles of New Urbanism can make for a community that prioritizes walkability, reduced automobile use, conservation, green spaces, diversity, and mixed land use that has the ability to increase residents’ health and wellness. Attention to crime and safety, however, should not take a backseat in these so-called “sustainable” communities. This paper argues that New Urbanists must have knowledge of place-based criminology and incorporate crime prevention methods in their mission. Urban planners, developers, architects, and criminologists should join forces to (1) recognize theoretical explanations of crime in space, and (2) to integrate proven crime prevention methods, such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) into their progressive community designs.
Keywords: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), New Urbanism, environmental criminology, crime pattern theory
Cite the article: Martin, A. (2025). From residential utopia to dystopia: Place-based criminology and the need for CPTED in New Urbanist communities. The CPTED Journal of The International CPTED Association. Available at: https://www.thecptedjournal.net/2025-martin.html
Author correspondence: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD PDF
***
Abstract
Newly built and restored areas featuring principles of New Urbanism can make for a community that prioritizes walkability, reduced automobile use, conservation, green spaces, diversity, and mixed land use that has the ability to increase residents’ health and wellness. Attention to crime and safety, however, should not take a backseat in these so-called “sustainable” communities. This paper argues that New Urbanists must have knowledge of place-based criminology and incorporate crime prevention methods in their mission. Urban planners, developers, architects, and criminologists should join forces to (1) recognize theoretical explanations of crime in space, and (2) to integrate proven crime prevention methods, such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) into their progressive community designs.
Keywords: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), New Urbanism, environmental criminology, crime pattern theory
