The premise of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is that the proper design and effective use of the built environment can reduce the incidence of crime and the fear of crime. The primary goal of CPTED is through physical design to minimize opportunities for crime to occur.

Formal CPTED training was first developed at the University of Louisville in 1985 and has subsequently been provided to numerous law enforcement professionals throughout the world.

Community officials (City Managers, City Planners, Community Developers, etc.) play a vital role in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) because they help integrate safety features into the urban layout and may oversee the implementation and maintenance of city policies and infrastructure. Their involvement ensures that CPTED principles are integrated into daily operations, budget planning, and long-term development strategies. By coordinating across various departments and managing resources effectively, city officials can ensure that safety measures are consistently applied and adapted to meet the evolving needs of the community, enhancing overall public safety and crime prevention efforts.

To be as effective as possible, ACPI recommends involving the following community leaders in CPTED training and encourages them to become Certified CPTED Specialists.

·      Community Development personnel

·      Planning and Zoning

·      Code Compliance

·      City Managers

·      Community Planning

·      School Board Officials

·      Parks Department

·      Local Police Department

·      Local Architects and Engineers

The American Crime Prevention Institute (ACPI) offers a CPTED Community training program for community officials and local law enforcement.  ACPI has presented this CPTED Community training for community officials, as well as law enforcement personnel, on-site in Frisco, Texas, Hyattsville, Maryland, Topeka, Kansas, Portland, Oregon and Peoria, Illinois.

For those who would like further information about Community CPTED training, contact Dan Keller, Executive Director at ACPI at dkeller@acpionline.com.

ACPI is the worldwide leader in enabling law enforcement agencies, businesses, institutions, and security professionals to reduce criminal activity and risk and enhance quality of life through the delivery of practical, unbiased training and certification programs.  Visit our website at acpionline.com to learn about our comprehensive list of both live virtual and self-paced training courses.