Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Practice Exam

Which design aspect is vital for enhancing 'territoriality' in a community?

1. Creating open spaces for gatherings

2. Maintaining clearly defined property lines and boundaries

3. Using bright colors for buildings

4. Promoting public art installations

The correct answer is: Maintaining clearly defined property lines and boundaries

Maintaining clearly defined property lines and boundaries is vital for enhancing 'territoriality' in a community because it establishes a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents. Clear boundaries help individuals identify where their space begins and ends, fostering a sense of control over their environment. This ownership can deter crime as residents feel a collective responsibility to monitor and protect their territory, leading to increased social cohesion. Defining property lines can also discourage outsiders from encroaching on private spaces, reinforcing the idea that residents have a stake in their community and should look out for one another. This sense of territoriality serves to strengthen community bonds and reduces the likelihood of criminal activity, as potential offenders may be dissuaded by the visible signs of ownership and community vigilance. Creating open spaces for gatherings, while beneficial for fostering community interaction, does not directly enhance the concept of territoriality as effectively as defined boundaries do. Bright colors for buildings and promoting public art installations can contribute to an inviting atmosphere but do not specifically address the notion of personal or shared territory within a community.